It might be a surprise to many that roughly 20% of all ear infections occur in adults. Most people think of ear infections as a childhood illness, something that affects primarily young kids. Ear infections are definitely more common in children but adults do get them too.
Ear infections can be especially unpleasant for individuals with hearing loss because they can interfere with their hearing aids. Hearing aids can also harbor germs that could lead to an ear infection if they aren’t correctly cleaned and maintained.
So, you may 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 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?
You may be questioning if your hearing aid is the cause of your ear infection if you’re an adult with hearing loss. Technically, the answer is no. But in order to get the complete picture we have to look at it in greater detail.
The vast majority of all ear infections are due to viruses or bacteria that then infect the inner ear. There are quite a few paths that bacteria and viruses can take on their way to becoming an infection. In some instances, the inner ear becomes infected after an earlier illness (for example, a sinus infection or a cold). An infection may be caused by fluid buildup in other situations. It’s also entirely possible that a virus or bacteria directly infected the inner ear by physical transmission.
This can happen with some frequency to people who wear hearing aids. The virus or bacteria hitches a ride on your hearing aid and, when inserted, gains access to the inner ear. Correct 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 hearing aid does play a part in this transmission.
Contact between hearing aids and ear infections
So, how do ear infections and hearing aids interact? To understand what to expect, it’s helpful to look at the most prevalent symptoms of an ear infection. Here are a few of the most prevalent symptoms of ear infections:
- Inflammation and swelling
- Fluid draining from the ear
- Tinnitus (a ringing in the ears)
- Dizziness or vertigo
- Temporary loss of hearing in some situations
- Pain in the ear
- A feeling of fullness or pressure in the ears
Not everybody will experience every symptom, of course. In most circumstances, your infected ear will be painful and there will most likely be obvious swelling around the inner ear. For those with hearing loss, these symptoms can interact unfavorably with your hearing aids. That’s because your hearing aid will most likely (at least in part) reside within the ear canal. Your hearing aids could cause added discomfort as they aggravate the tender inflamed infected ear.
Also, with a hearing aid that sits primarily inside the ear canal, fluid drainage can be obstructed. Your infection and discomfort might last longer if fluid is stuck in your ear. The pain and pressure in your ears will be increased because of this. This pressure can be even more marked when you’re wearing your hearing aid.
The performance of your hearing aid can also be impacted by the excess moisture. So your hearing aids aren’t working at peak performance and your ears are in pain. Which means that wearing hearing aids when you have an ear infection can be a downright miserable time.
Ear infection & hearing aid strategies
So what can you do if your hearing aids are bothering you while you have an ear infection? There are a number of steps you can take to reduce your risk of developing ear infections and to manage the discomfort that an ear infection might cause. Here are a few of those steps:
- Take breaks from wearing your hearing aids: You can take a break from your hearing aids for a while if you have significant or lasting pain. You can use alternative methods of communication with friends and family, like texting, in the meantime.
- Practice good ear hygiene: It’s essential to keep your ears dry and clean and regularly clean your outer ear. Do not try to stick anything in your ear, however, including cotton swabs. Using cotton swabs can drive 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 do.
- Talk to your healthcare provider: If you suspect that you have an ear infection, talk to your doctor as soon as possible. Treating a hearing aid as soon as possible will reduce the risk of it becoming severe or prolonged.
- Regularly clean your hearing aids: Making sure your devices are clean can help to ensure they aren’t transferring bacteria and viruses to your ears (or, at least, that it happens less often.) Ask us for assistance if you’re not sure how to correctly clean and sanitize your hearing aids.
- Talk to your hearing specialist: Think about coming in to have your hearing aid re-fit if your ear infection clears but your hearing aid is still uncomfortable.
You probably depend heavily on your hearing aid every day. They help you communicate with family and friends and move about the world more easily. That makes it very hard to give up your hearing aid even for short periods. However, taking a break from your hearing aids while you have an ear infection can help you recuperate from your sickness more quickly and more comfortably. This will help you get back to feeling better quicker.
Ear infections are relatively common. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t get treatment or try to prevent them. Contact us if you’re wondering how your hearing aid use will be impacted by an ear infection.