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Hearing loss and operations under general anaesthetic

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Hi all, bit of an odd one, but given that are done under general anaesthetic, I hope people have some insight to share.

I’m facing having an op done under general, not for a CI, but I feel quite nervous about having to take my aids out. I know it won’t make a bit of difference when I’m out :joy: but it’s the coming round and not being to hear that’s scaring me a bit. What’s the best way to handle this and to ask for support? How do the hospital keep the aids safe? Will I get them back before I come round? Can I just keep them in but turned off? Probably I’m worrying about nothing but the consultant didn’t seem to know the process and made me feel a bit silly asking.

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Hi @Tee - probably the attending nurse as you are getting ready to go into the theatre will be better equipped to assure you that all will be fine and offer some appropriate suggestions. They will likely look after your phone, so will probably look after your hearing aids too.
And, chances are high you may not be coherent enough immediately after you come around to understand much anyway - with or without hearing aids. Just nod and smile… :slight_smile:
You’ve got this !!

I would see if I could talk to someone in the surgery department about whether they have anyone hearing-aid-proficient who can give you answers to your questions. Usually in the post-op area, the nurses may ask you to do a few things (open your eyes, squeeze their hands, and so on) that it would be good to be able to hear. I’m told hearing is the first sense we regain after general anesthesia. Maybe someone could put in a hearing aid for you and turn it on, so they can speak to that side? It is probably worth asking,

In reply to @SaxMan

Thanks @SaxMan that made me laugh.
And oh no, I never thought about phone too. It has my diabetic CGM app on it.
I will definitely go through it all with the team before and on the day (assuming that’s possible) and I guess maybe just enjoy the drugs while they last.

In reply to @AttilaDaPun

That’s a great idea @AttilaDaPun. And making sure it’s on all my notes and medical bracelet should help too, right? It’s bizarre that I’m more worried about that side of things than the actual surgery and anaesthetic, but that’s probably some old bad experiences. I mean, I won’t be the only Deaf person who they’ve done an op on, so there must be some process. fingers crossed

If there’s an office or an Audiologist affiliated with whatever facility you’re going to for surgery, they might also be helpful - maybe even do an in-service training for surgery staff on how to handle hearing aids.

I think I’ll be lucky if I find someone who just knows to make eye contact and shout. :grimacing: They’re not super great with Deaf awareness at my local. The consultant asked me if I wanted to be put down as “partially deaf” or “hard of hearing”. I said, “I’m Deaf. I have a 95dB loss and was offered a .” She had no idea because I’m so good at lipreading. :person_facepalming:
Maybe I’ll just write DEAF! on my forehead with sharpie :joy:

I didn’t realize (even with much of my own hearing loss being moderate-ish) how much I was watching people speak, face-to- face, until COVID came along and people were wearing masks. I was working as a radiologic technologist then (now medically retired) and patients, transporters, other techs, clerical staff, the radiologists - everybody had their mouths covered. It was exhausting for me, and some of my patients were Deaf - I could only imagine how much more so it was for them. Some people just Don’t Get It, and don’t even think about how to do things proactively.

I have surgery coming up soon and just had my pre op appointment. They gave me leaflets about various things and said if you wear hearing aids, you should wear them. They also said that you shouldn’t bring valuables and as my hearing aids cost more than my iPhone, Apple Watch and iPad put together, I have decided not to wear mine, given that I can manage without. I do think that they will be used to people coming in with hearing aids they will have a procedure to look after them. Good luck with your surgery.

My last surgery on my spine after breaking my spine, they took my hearing aids out of my ears when under and put them back into my ears after the surgery so when I awake, I’m more aware.

I’m in the UK tho but it seems standard here.

@Tee I’m a user, and have had many surgeries since getting my CI. I make sure my surgeon knows I’m deaf. What I do is I have a CI small zip up case, the admission nurse puts a bradma name label on my case. When the anesthetist arrives I put my “ears” in my case. Just make sure you tell the anesthetic nurse you’re deaf without them and they will put your container someplace safe. When I get to recovery and I’m half awake my “ears” go back on. I’m just across the ditch so procedure should be very similar. Just make sure you get a bradma name stuck on your container, my cochlear zip ip container is about the size of a ladies wallet. Good luck.

Deaf_piper explained it well.

My second implant surgery the medical team were all talking to me when I came to. They were acting concerned I couldn’t hear them. Like there was a problem. Then I noticed the surgeon smile. He then got the container my processor was in and gave it to me. We all had a good laugh about it.

In reply to @Tee

If someone will be with you they could hold phone and aids. In any case I’d bring a containter with your name on it to hold the aids. I found the pre-op people did a good job of speaking loudly to me as did the nurses. Just keep saying “I can’t hear you” as a reminder.
Don’t count on anyone being able to put your in . Good luck.

In reply to @Tealover

@Tealover I definitely can’t manage without mine at all. But you have reminded me I have a spare pair that I could take instead of my main ones that would be a PITA if I lost, but not quite as important. That’s a good idea.

In reply to @AttilaDaPun

@AttilaDaPun I have a horror story about a medical professional who kept deliberately covering their mouth and looking away from me while speaking as if they were testing me. He was so rude and I still to do this day have no idea why. I left the appointment in tears but because I effectively “stormed out” he also added horrible things to my medical notes. I actually made a formal complaint about him.
Anyway, not that that’s relevant to this post, but experiences like that do make me a bit more nervous of healthcare and people missing out the “care” bit.

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