Surprisingly, around 20% of all ear infections happen to adults. Most people think of ear infections as a childhood ailment, something that impacts primarily young kids. And it’s true that ear infections are more prevalent in children, but they also happen frequently in adults.
Ear infections can be especially uncomfortable for individuals with hearing loss because they can interfere with their hearing aids. 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 idea to use hearing aids with an ear infection? You can, but it might not be something you want to do. Ear infections can cause substantial 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.
Can an ear infection be caused by hearing aids?
You might be questioning if your hearing aid is the cause of your ear infection if you’re an adult with hearing impairment. The technical answer is no. But more nuance is needed to understand the complete story.
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 result in infection. Often, a previous illness, such as a cold or sinus infection, will result in an infection of the inner ear. In other cases, fluid buildup might result in an infection. It’s also completely feasible that a virus or bacteria directly infected the inner ear by physical transmission.
For individuals who wear hearing aids, this can be a regular occurrence. The virus or bacteria hitches a ride on your hearing device and, upon insertion, gains access to the inner ear. That’s why it is critical for those with hearing loss to properly maintain and clean their devices. So the virus or bacteria is really the cause of the infection, not the hearing aid itself. But your hearing aid does play a part in this transmission.
How ear infections interact with hearing aids
So, how do ear infections and hearing aids interact? To know what to expect, it’s useful to look at the most prevalent symptoms of an ear infection. Here are some of the most prevalent symptoms of ear infections:
- Temporary loss of hearing in some cases
- Ear pain
- Discharge of fluid from the ear
- Tinnitus (a ringing in the ears)
- A feeling of fullness or pressure in the ears
- Swelling and inflammation
- Vertigo or dizziness
Needless to say, everybody will experience the symptoms in their own way. In the majority of circumstances, your infected ear will hurt and there will likely be noticeable inflammation around the inner ear. For people with hearing loss, these symptoms can interact unfavorably with your hearing aids. That’s because your hearing aid will likely (at least partially) sit within the ear canal. Your hearing aids could cause added soreness as they aggravate the tender inflamed infected ear.
Also, with a hearing aid that goes mostly inside the ear canal, fluid drainage can be obstructed. Your infection and discomfort may last longer if fluid is stuck 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 added moisture can also impede the operation 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 a downright miserable time.
Ear infection & hearing aid solutions
So what can you do if your hearing aids are bothering you while you have 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 regularly clean your outer ear. However, you should never stick any object inside of 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 exact opposite of what you’re likely trying to do.
- Talk to your healthcare provider: You should speak with your doctor sooner than later if you suspect you may be developing an ear infection. Treating a hearing aid as soon as possible will decrease the chance of it becoming severe or prolonged.
- Take breaks from wearing your hearing aids: You can take a break from your hearing aids for a while if you have severe or persistent pain. You can use alternative methods of communication with family and friends, like texting, in the meantime.
- Talk to your hearing specialist: If your ears start to feel better, but the discomfort from your hearing aids doesn’t recede, consider talking to us to see if you can get a better fit on your devices.
- Regularly clean your hearing aids: Keeping your device clean can decrease the chance of transferring bacteria or viruses to your ears. If you don’t know how to clean and disinfect hearing aids, talk to us for some instruction.
You probably depend heavily on your hearing aid every day. They help you communicate with family and friends and move around the world more easily. Which means that these little devices can often be difficult to give up, even for a short time. However, taking a break from your hearing aids while you have an ear infection can help you recover from your infection more quickly and more comfortably. This will help you get back to feeling better quicker.
Ear infections are fairly common. But you should still get treatment if you detect symptoms. If you have questions about how ear infections may affect your hearing aid use, give us a call today.