It might be a surprise to many that approximately 20% of all ear infections happen to adults. Most people think of ear infections as a childhood illness, something that impacts mainly young kids. And it’s accurate that ear infections are more prevalent in kids, but they also happen frequently in adults.
For adults with hearing impairments or hearing loss, ear infections can be especially inconvenient, as they can interact with hearing aids in some unpleasant ways. Hearing aids can also harbor germs that could result in an ear infection if they aren’t properly cleaned and maintained.
So, you might be wondering: Can I use hearing aids while I have an ear infection? You can, but it might not be something you want to do. Ear infections can cause considerable swelling and discomfort in the ear, and your hearing aids might worsen those symptoms. But people who use hearing aids can take a few steps to treat and possibly prevent ear infections.
Do hearing aids cause ear infections?
You may be wondering if your hearing aid is the cause of your ear infection if you’re an adult with hearing loss. The technical answer is no. But more nuance is needed to understand the whole story.
Nearly all ear infections are caused by bacteria or a virus that gets into the ear. There are quite a few paths that bacteria and viruses can take on their way to becoming an infection. Sometimes, an earlier illness, such as a cold or sinus infection, will lead to an infection of the inner ear. An infection may be caused by fluid accumulation in other instances. And it’s also definitely possible for viruses and bacteria to infect the inner ear through direct transmission.
This can occur with some frequency to people who use hearing aids. Your hearing aid accumulates this bacteria or virus and then gets inserted directly into your ear. Correct hearing aid cleaning and maintenance is crucial for this reason. Essentially, the hearing aid itself does not cause the ear infection, the virus or bacteria does. But your device may play a role in transmission.
Contact between hearing aids and ear infections
So what is the level of interaction between hearing aids and ear infections? The best way to anticipate what to expect is to look at the most prevalent ear infection symptoms. Here are several of the most common symptoms of ear infections:
- Temporary loss of hearing in some cases
- Vertigo or dizziness
- A feeling of fullness or pressure in the ears
- Pain in the ear
- Inflammation and swelling
- Fluid draining from the ear
- Tinnitus (a ringing in the ears)
Not everyone will experience every symptom, of course. Usually, you will have noticeable inflammation of the inner ear and ear pain in the infected ear. These symptoms can have an adverse interaction with hearing aids for those with hearing loss. That’s because your hearing aid will likely (at least in part) reside within the ear canal. Because the ear canal is irritated and tender, your hearing aids might cause additional discomfort.
Also, with a hearing aid that sits mostly inside the ear canal, fluid drainage can be blocked. When fluids cannot drain, your discomfort might become prolonged. This will also increase the pressure (and pain) you feel in your ears. When you are wearing your hearing aid, pressure can be even more uncomfortable.
The performance of your hearing aid can also be impacted by the extra moisture. So your hearing aids aren’t functioning at peak performance and your ears are in pain. Which means that wearing hearing aids when you have an ear infection can be an absolutely miserable time.
Strategies to wearing hearing aids with an ear infection
So what can you do if your hearing aids are annoying you during an ear infection? You can lower your risk of developing an ear infection and address any discomfort that an ear infection may cause by taking a few steps. Here are a few of those steps:
- Practice good ear hygiene: It’s important to keep your ears clean and dry and routinely clean your outer ear. However, you should never stick any object in your ear and that includes cotton swabs. Using cotton swabs can push earwax and other debris further into your ear, increasing your risk of developing an infection. This is the opposite of what you’re likely trying to accomplish.
- Regularly clean your hearing aids: Keeping your device clean can decrease the chance of transmitting bacteria or viruses to your ears. If you don’t know how to clean and disinfect hearing aids, talk to us for a quick tutorial.
- Talk to your hearing specialist: If your ears begin to feel better, but the discomfort from your hearing aids doesn’t go away, consider talking to us to see if you can get a better fit on your devices.
- Take breaks from wearing your hearing aids: You can take a break from your hearing aids for a while if you have severe or lasting pain. You can use alternative methods of communication with friends and family, like texting, in the meantime.
- Talk to your healthcare provider: You should speak with your doctor sooner than later if you think you may be developing an ear infection. Treating a hearing aid as soon as possible will decrease the risk of it becoming severe or prolonged.
Hearing aids are likely an essential part of your daily life. They help you navigate your world more easily and have better communication with your family and friends. Which means that these little devices can often be difficult to give up, even for a short time. However, you will have a quicker recovery from your ear infection if you take a break from wearing them until you heal up. That means you can get back to enjoying what you hear faster.
It’s not unusual for individuals to get ear infections. But you should still seek treatment if you detect symptoms. Contact us if you’re wondering how your hearing aid use will be impacted by an ear infection.