It may be a surprise to many that approximately 20% of all ear infections occur in adults. The common notion is that ear infections are something that normally impact kids. And it’s accurate that ear infections are more common in kids, but they also happen frequently in adults.
Ear infections can be especially unpleasant for people with hearing loss because they can interact with their hearing aids. Additionally, when hearing aids aren’t correctly maintained, they can become a vehicle for ear infection-causing diseases.
So, you may be wondering: Can I use hearing aids while I have an ear infection? You can, but it may not be something you want to do. Hearing aids could intensify the discomfort and inflammation caused by an ear infection. But individuals who use hearing aids can take a few steps to manage and possibly prevent ear infections.
Do hearing aids cause ear infections?
If you’re an adult with hearing impairment 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.
The vast majority of all ear infections are caused by viruses or bacteria that then infect the inner ear. There are a wide variety of vectors that can lead to infection. Often, a previous illness, like a cold or sinus infection, will result in an infection of the inner ear. In other situations, fluid accumulation may lead to an infection. And it’s also certainly possible for viruses and bacteria to infect the inner ear through direct transmission.
For people who use hearing aids, this can be a regular occurrence. 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. So the virus or bacteria is really the cause of the infection, not the hearing aid itself. But your device may play a role in transmission.
Contact between hearing aids and ear infections
So, how do ear infections and hearing aids interact? The best way to anticipate what to expect is to look at the most common ear infection symptoms. Here are several of the most common symptoms of ear infections:
- Dizziness or vertigo
- A feeling of fullness or pressure in the ears
- Ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
- Swelling and inflammation
- In some cases, temporary hearing loss
- Pain in the ear
- Drainage of fluid from the ear
Not everyone will experience every symptom, of course. In most cases, your infected ear will be painful and there will likely be obvious inflammation around the inner ear. For individuals with hearing loss, these symptoms can interact unfavorably with your hearing aids. That’s because the hearing aid goes inside the infected ear (at least some of it). Because the ear canal is inflamed 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 may become prolonged. The pain and pressure in your ears will be increased because of this. When you are wearing your hearing aid, pressure can be even more unpleasant.
The performance of your hearing aid can also be impacted by the extra moisture. So your ears are in more pain and your hearing aid isn’t really working as well as it should. This means that you will have a horrible time wearing your hearing aid while you have an ear infection.
Solutions to wearing hearing aids with an ear infection
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. Those steps include the following:
- 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.
- 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.
- Talk to your healthcare provider: You should speak with your doctor sooner than later if you believe you might be developing an ear infection. The sooner you treat the ear infection, the less severe or prolonged your symptoms may be.
- Regularly clean your hearing aids: Keeping your device clean can decrease the risk of transmitting bacteria or viruses to your ears. Ask us for help if you’re not certain how to correctly clean and sanitize your hearing aids.
- Practice good ear hygiene: It’s essential to keep your ears dry and clean and regularly clean your outer ear. Don’t 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 attempting to accomplish.
You probably depend heavily on your hearing aid every day. They help you get around your world more easily and have better communication with your family and friends. That makes it very 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. That means you can get back to enjoying what you hear faster.
It’s not unusual for people to get ear infections. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t seek out treatment or try to prevent them. Contact us if you’re wondering how your hearing aid use will be affected by an ear infection.