If you or your child live with hearing loss of any sort, have you determined how this will be communicated in an emergency? Medical ID jewelry is important to identify yourself if you are D/deaf or hard of hearing, and how first responders and medical personnel can best ensure communication.

 

If you are D/deaf, hard of hearing, or live with hearing loss or hearing impairment, this may not be apparent in an emergency. Hearing loss may not be readily evident or apparent in an emergency, as non-responsiveness to sound may be a sign of loss of consciousness or shock. “Visual cues” of hearing loss, such as assistive devices like hearing aids or Cochlear implants if used, may not be enough of a “clue” in some situations.

A profoundly Deaf individual may not have need to wear hearing aids, and those with moderate hearing loss may choose to not wear hearing aids and instead communicate with sign language or other methods. Medical ID for those who are profoundly (completely) D/deaf may read “Deaf – Uses ASL/Sign Language”.

A person with mild to moderate hearing loss/impairment’s medical bracelet may read “Hard of hearing – Needs hearing aids”. Remember, depending on the situation, the person may not be wearing their hearing aids—such as if they are swimming or partaking in certain sports—or depending on the situation, the hearing aids may fall out and become separated from the wearer, so identifying the need for hearing aids may help the user become more quickly reunited with their device.

Cochlear implants are a technological advancement allowing people with some types of hearing loss to hear. While controversial in the Deaf community, Cochlear implant medical ID jewelry is extremely important, as MRIs may affect the functionality and positioning of the implanted device. [5] Different Cochlear implant types may respond differently to MRIs—some models require special handling during MRI scans, such as magnets that are removable during MRIs, while others must not be exposed to MRI. [5] Cochlear implant medical ID is important to ensure the right type of care is taken with an MRI. A “Cochlear implant – No MRI” medical ID can help ensure the right decision is made. You may also wish to engrave the type of Cochlear implant on medical ID jewelry so those providing care can look into or consult on the safety requirements of that specific implant.

No matter your need for medical ID, we have a variety of styles available to keep you safe and ensure you can communicate the way that is best for you in an emergency.