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A New Audiology Program Helping Veterans Hear Better in the Hospital
What is it about?
This article describes a program at the VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System that helps Veterans with hearing loss while they are in the hospital. Many patients either forget their hearing aids or do not have them available during an unexpected admission, making it hard to talk with doctors and nurses. Our program identifies patients with hearing loss early in their stay and brings audiology care directly to the bedside. Services include checking hearing aids, offering personal amplifiers, and teaching communication tips. By doing this, we make it easier for Veterans to take part in conversations about their care.
Why is it important?
Good communication is essential for safe and effective medical care, but hearing loss often goes unrecognized in hospitals. This can lead to confusion, missed information, and worse health outcomes. Our program shows that providing audiology care in the hospital is both possible and beneficial. Veterans, nurses, and doctors found the service helpful, and it reduced the need for extra clinic visits after discharge. This work highlights a practical way health systems can improve patient safety and quality of care for people with hearing loss.