It might be a surprise to many that roughly 20% of all ear infections happen to adults. The common idea is that ear infections are something that usually affect kids. Ear infections are definitely more prevalent in children but adults do get them too.
Ear infections can be especially unpleasant for individuals who have hearing loss because they can interfere with their hearing aids. Hearing aids can also shelter germs that could result in an ear infection if they are not properly cleaned and maintained.
So is it a bad idea to use hearing aids with an ear infection? In general, the answer is yes, but you may not want to. Hearing aids could aggravate the discomfort and swelling caused by an ear infection. However, there are some steps that those who use hearing aids can take to help avoid and manage ear infection symptoms.
Can an ear infection be caused by hearing aids?
If you’re an adult with hearing loss and you start to notice the symptoms of an ear infection, you may begin to wonder: did my hearing aids cause my ear infection? The technical answer is no. But more detail is needed to understand the complete story.
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. In some circumstances, the inner ear becomes infected after a past illness (for instance, a sinus infection or a cold). An infection may be caused by fluid accumulation in other instances. It’s also entirely feasible that a virus or bacteria directly infected the inner ear by physical transmission.
For individuals 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. Correct hearing aid cleaning and maintenance is crucial for this reason. So the virus or bacteria is actually 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 what is the degree of interaction between hearing aids and ear infections? The best way to anticipate what to expect is to look at the most common ear infection symptoms. Generally speaking, ear infections will present with the following symptoms:
- Swelling and inflammation
- Pain in the ear
- Tinnitus (a ringing in the ears)
- Ear pressure or a feeling of fullness
- Vertigo or dizziness
- Discharge of fluid from the ear
- Temporary loss of hearing in some situations
Obviously, everybody will experience the symptoms in their own way. Typically, you will have noticeable inflammation of the inner ear and ear pain in the infected 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 goes mostly inside the ear canal, fluid drainage can be obstructed. Your infection and discomfort might 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 added moisture can also impair the function of your hearing aid. 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 an absolutely miserable time.
Ear infection & hearing aid strategies
So what can you do if your hearing aids are bothering you during an ear infection? You can lower your risk of getting an ear infection and manage any discomfort that an ear infection may cause by taking a few steps. Those steps include the following:
- Practice good ear hygiene: It’s essential to keep your ears clean and dry and routinely clean your outer ear. Do not try to stick anything in your ear, however, including cotton swabs. With a cotton swabs, your risk of developing an ear infection increases because you could jam earwax and debris further up into your ear canal. You’re attempting to accomplish the exact opposite.
- Talk to your healthcare provider: You should speak with your doctor sooner than later if you believe 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 few days if you have severe or persistent pain. During this time off, you can adopt other means of communicating with your loved ones (such as texting or writing messages on a piece of paper, and so on).
- 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 not comfortable.
- Regularly clean your hearing aids: Keeping your device clean can decrease the risk of transferring bacteria or viruses to your ears. If you don’t know how to clean and sanitize hearing aids, talk to us for some instruction.
You probably depend heavily on your hearing aid every day. 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 hard 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 recuperate from your sickness more quickly and more comfortably. That means you can get back to enjoying what you hear faster.
Ear infections are relatively common. But you should still seek treatment if you notice symptoms. Contact us if you’re wondering how your hearing aid use will be impacted by an ear infection.