It might be a surprise to many that approximately 20% of all ear infections happen to adults. The common idea is that ear infections are something that usually impact kids. Ear infections are certainly more common in children but adults do get them too.
For adults with hearing impairments or hearing loss, ear infections can be particularly inconvenient, as they can interact with hearing aids in some unpleasant ways. Hearing aids can also shelter germs that could lead to an ear infection if they aren’t properly cleaned and maintained.
So is it a bad plan to use hearing aids with an ear infection? Overall, the answer is yes, but you might not want to. Ear infections can cause considerable swelling and discomfort in the ear, and your hearing aids may exacerbate those symptoms. But individuals who use hearing aids can take a few steps to treat and possibly prevent ear infections.
Do hearing aids cause ear infections?
If you’re an adult with hearing loss and you begin to notice the symptoms of an ear infection, you might begin to wonder: did my hearing aids cause this ear infection? The technical answer is no. But in order to get the full picture we need to view it in greater detail.
Almost all ear infections are caused by bacteria or a virus that gets into the ear. There are a wide range of vectors that can lead to infection. Often, an earlier illness, such as a cold or sinus infection, will result in an infection of the inner ear. An infection might be caused by fluid accumulation in other instances. And it’s also definitely possible for viruses and bacteria to infect the inner ear via simple transmission.
For people who use hearing aids, this can be a regular occurrence. The virus or bacteria latches onto your hearing aid and, when inserted, gains access to the inner ear. Proper hearing aid cleaning and maintenance is crucial for this reason. In other words, the hearing aid itself doesn’t cause the ear infection, the virus or bacteria does. But your device may play a role in transmission.
How ear infections interact with hearing aids
So, how do ear infections and hearing aids interact? The best way to anticipate what to expect is to examine the most prevalent ear infection symptoms. Generally speaking, ear infections will have the following symptoms:
- Ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
- Drainage of fluid from the ear
- Ear pain
- Vertigo or dizziness
- A feeling of fullness or pressure in the ears
- In some cases, temporary hearing loss
- Swelling and inflammation
Obviously, everyone will experience the symptoms in their own way. Usually, you will have obvious swelling of the inner ear and ear pain in the infected ear. These symptoms can have an adverse interaction with hearing aids for people with hearing loss. That’s because your hearing aid will likely (at least in part) sit within the ear canal. Because the ear canal is inflamed and tender, your hearing aids could cause extra discomfort.
Also, with a hearing aid that sits mostly inside the ear canal, fluid drainage can be blocked. Your infection and discomfort may last longer if fluid is trapped in your ear. The pain and pressure in your ears will be increased as a result of this. This pressure can be even more pronounced when you’re wearing your hearing aid.
This increased moisture can also impede the function of your hearing aid. So your ears are in more pain and your hearing aid isn’t really working as well as it should. Which means that wearing hearing aids when you have an ear infection can be an absolutely miserable time.
Ear infection & hearing aid strategies
You might now be thinking: my hearing aids annoy me when I have an ear infection… but what can I do? You can reduce your risk of developing an ear infection and manage any discomfort that an ear infection may cause by taking a few steps. Those steps include the following:
- Regularly clean your hearing aids: Keeping your device clean can reduce the chance of transmitting bacteria or viruses to your ears. Ask us for help if you’re not sure how to properly clean and disinfect your hearing aids.
- Practice good ear hygiene: It’s important to keep your ears dry and clean and routinely clean your outer ear. Do not try to stick any object in your ear, however, including cotton swabs. Using cotton swabs can push earwax and other debris further into your ear, increasing your chance of developing an infection. This is the exact opposite of what you’re likely trying to do.
- Talk to your hearing specialist: If your ears begin to feel better, but the discomfort from your hearing aids doesn’t recede, think about talking to us to see if you can get a better fit on your devices.
- Take breaks from wearing your hearing aids: If the pain is persistent or severe, it’s okay to take a break from wearing your hearing aid until your ears are feeling better. During this interim period, you can adopt other ways of communicating with your loved ones (such as texting or writing messages on a piece of paper, and so on).
- Talk to your healthcare provider: If you suspect that you have an ear infection, talk to your doctor as soon as you can. Treating a hearing aid as soon as possible will reduce the risk of it becoming severe or prolonged.
Hearing aids are likely a crucial part of your everyday life. They help you communicate with loved ones and move around the world more easily. That makes it really difficult to give up your hearing aid even for short periods. However, you will have a speedier recovery from your ear infection if you take a break from wearing them until you heal up. This will help you get back to feeling better sooner.
Ear infections are relatively common. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t get treatment or try to prevent them. If you have questions about how ear infections might impact your hearing aid use, give us a call today.
