It may be a surprise to many that roughly 20% of all ear infections happen to adults. The common notion is that ear infections are something that usually affect children. Ear infections are certainly more prevalent in children but adults do get them too.
Ear infections can be especially unpleasant for people with hearing loss because they can interact with their hearing aids. Also, when hearing aids are not correctly maintained, they can become a vector for ear infection-causing diseases.
So is it a bad idea to use hearing aids with an ear infection? You can, but it may not be something you want to do. Ear infections can cause substantial swelling and discomfort in the ear, and your hearing aids may exacerbate those symptoms. But people who use hearing aids can take a few steps to manage 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. The technical answer is no. But in order to get the complete picture we have to view it in greater detail.
The vast majority of all ear infections are a result of viruses or bacteria that then infect the inner ear. There are a number of paths that bacteria and viruses can take on their way to becoming an infection. Often, an earlier illness, such as a cold or sinus infection, will result in an infection of the inner ear. In other cases, fluid buildup may result in an infection. It’s also entirely feasible that a virus or bacteria directly infected the inner ear by physical transmission.
For people who use hearing aids, this can be a regular occurrence. The virus or bacteria latches onto your hearing aid and, when inserted, gets access to the inner ear. That’s why it is critical for individuals with hearing impairments to properly maintain and clean their devices. 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, how do ear infections and hearing aids interact? To know what to expect, it’s helpful to look at the most prevalent symptoms of an ear infection. Here are several of the most common symptoms of ear infections:
- Tinnitus (a ringing in the ears)
- Pain in the ear
- Inflammation and swelling
- In some instances, temporary hearing loss
- A feeling of fullness or pressure in the ears
- Vertigo or dizziness
- Discharge of fluid from the ear
Needless to say, 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 people with hearing loss, these symptoms can interact unfavorably with your hearing aids. That’s because the hearing aid is inside the infected ear (at least some of it). Your hearing aids might cause added soreness as they irritate the tender inflamed infected ear.
Additionally, any in-the-canal hearing aid can stop drainage. Your infection and discomfort might last longer if fluid is trapped in your ear. 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.
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 doesn’t really work as well as it should. Which means that wearing hearing aids when you have an ear infection can be an absolutely miserable time.
Solutions to wearing hearing aids with an ear infection
So what can you do if your hearing aids are annoying you while you have an ear infection? There are several steps you can take to lower your risk of developing ear infections and to manage the discomfort that an ear infection might cause. Here are a few of those steps:
- Practice good ear hygiene: This means routinely cleaning your outer ear and, generally, keeping your ears clean and dry. However, you should never stick any object inside of your ear and that includes cotton swabs. With a cotton swabs, your chance 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 hearing specialist: If your ears begin to feel better, but the discomfort from your hearing aids doesn’t go away, consider talking to us to see if you can get a better fit on your devices.
- Talk to your healthcare provider: If you suspect that you have an ear infection, talk to your doctor as soon as possible. The sooner you address the ear infection, the less severe or prolonged your symptoms may be.
- Take breaks from wearing your hearing aids: You can take a break from your hearing aids for a while if you have significant or persistent pain. You can use alternative methods of communication with family and friends, like texting, in the meantime.
- Regularly clean your hearing aids: Keeping your device clean can decrease the chance of transmitting bacteria or viruses to your ears. Ask us for assistance if you’re not sure how to properly clean and disinfect your hearing aids.
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 friends and family. That makes it really 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 recover from your sickness more quickly and more comfortably. This will help you get back to feeling better sooner.
Ear infections are fairly common. 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 impacted by an ear infection.