Surprisingly, around 20% of all ear infections afflict adults. Most people think of ear infections as a childhood illness, something that impacts primarily young kids. And it’s accurate that ear infections are more common in children, but they also occur frequently in adults.
For adults with hearing impairments or hearing loss, ear infections can be especially inconvenient, as they can interact with hearing aids in some uncomfortable ways. Hearing aids can also shelter germs that could result in an ear infection if they aren’t correctly cleaned and maintained.
So, you might be wondering: Can I wear hearing aids while I have an ear infection? In general, the answer is yes, but you might not want to. Ear infections can cause substantial inflammation 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.
Do hearing aids cause ear infections?
You might be wondering 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 detail is required to understand the complete story.
The vast majority of all ear infections are due to viruses or bacteria that then infect the inner ear. There are a wide range of vectors that can result in infection. Sometimes, an earlier illness, like a cold or sinus infection, will lead to an infection of the inner ear. In other cases, fluid accumulation may lead to an infection. It’s also entirely feasible that a virus or bacteria directly infected the inner ear by physical transmission.
For people who wear hearing aids, this can be a frequent 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. Essentially, the hearing aid itself doesn’t cause the ear infection, the virus or bacteria does. But your device could play a role in transmission.
Interactions between hearing aids and ear infections
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 prevalent ear infection symptoms. Here are a few of the most prevalent symptoms of ear infections:
- Fluid draining from the ear
- Ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
- Ear pain
- Temporary loss of hearing in some cases
- A feeling of fullness or pressure in the ears
- Vertigo or dizziness
- Swelling and inflammation
Needless to say, everyone will experience the symptoms in their own way. In most cases, your infected ear will be painful and there will 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) sit within the ear canal. Your hearing aids may cause added discomfort as they aggravate the tender inflamed infected ear.
Also, with a hearing aid that goes primarily inside the ear canal, fluid drainage can be obstructed. When fluids cannot drain, your discomfort may become prolonged. This will also increase the pressure (and pain) you feel in your ears. This pressure can be even more marked when you’re wearing your hearing aid.
This increased moisture can also impair the operation of your hearing aid. So your hearing aids aren’t functioning at peak performance and your ears are in pain. This means that you will have a horrible time wearing your hearing aid while you have an ear infection.
Ear infection & hearing aid solutions
So what can you do if your hearing aids are bothering you during an ear infection? You can reduce your risk of getting an ear infection and manage any discomfort that an ear infection might cause by taking a few steps. Those steps include the following:
- Regularly clean your hearing aids: Keeping your device clean can lessen the risk 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.
- Take breaks from wearing your hearing aids: If the pain is persistent or severe, it’s all right to take a break from wearing your hearing aid until your ears are feeling better. You can use alternative methods of communication with friends and family, like texting, in the meantime.
- Practice good ear hygiene: This means regularly cleaning your outer ear and, generally, keeping your ears clean and dry. Don’t 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. This is the exact opposite of what you’re likely attempting to accomplish.
- Talk to your hearing specialist: If your ears begin 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.
- 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.
You most likely depend heavily on your hearing aid every day. They help you get around your world more easily and have better communication with your friends and family. Which means that these little devices will usually 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 recuperate from your illness more quickly and more comfortably. This will help you get back to feeling better quicker.
It’s not uncommon for people to get ear infections. But you should still get treatment if you detect symptoms. Contact us if you’re wondering how your hearing aid use will be affected by an ear infection.