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 affect children. And it’s accurate that ear infections are more prevalent in kids, but they also occur frequently in adults.
For adults with hearing impairments or hearing loss, ear infections can be particularly inconvenient, as they can interact with hearing aids in some uncomfortable ways. Hearing aids can also harbor germs that could result in an ear infection if they aren’t correctly cleaned and maintained.
So, you might be wondering: Can I use hearing aids while I have an ear infection? In general, the answer is yes, but you may not want to. Ear infections can cause significant swelling and discomfort in the ear, and your hearing aids may 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 may 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 nuance is required to understand the complete story.
The vast majority of all ear infections are a result of viruses or bacteria that then infect the inner ear. There are quite a few paths that bacteria and viruses can take on their way to becoming an infection. In some instances, the inner ear becomes infected after a previous illness (for instance, a sinus infection or a cold). An infection might be caused by fluid buildup in other situations. It’s also completely feasible that a virus or bacteria directly infected the inner ear by physical transmission.
This can occur with some frequency to individuals who wear hearing aids. Your hearing aid collects this bacteria or virus and then gets inserted directly into your 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 actually the cause of the infection, not the hearing aid itself. But your device may play a role in transmission.
How ear infections interact with hearing aids
So what is the level of interaction between hearing aids and ear infections? To know what to expect, it’s helpful to look at the most common symptoms of an ear infection. Here are a few of the most common symptoms of ear infections:
- A feeling of fullness or pressure in the ears
- Swelling and inflammation
- Ear pain
- Tinnitus (a ringing in the ears)
- In some instances, temporary hearing loss
- Dizziness or vertigo
- Drainage of fluid from the ear
Not everybody will experience every symptom, of course. Usually, 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 partially) sit within the ear canal. Your hearing aids may cause added soreness as they aggravate 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. When you are wearing your hearing aid, pressure can be even more uncomfortable.
The performance of your hearing aid can also be impacted by the extra moisture. So your hearing aids aren’t working 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.
Solutions to wearing hearing aids with an ear infection
You might now be thinking: my hearing aids bother me when I have an ear infection… but what can I do? 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. Here are a few of those steps:
- Talk to your hearing specialist: Consider coming in to have your hearing aid re-fit if your ear infection clears but your hearing aid is still not comfortable.
- Practice good ear hygiene: This means regularly cleaning your outer ear and, generally, keeping your ears dry and clean. Don’t try to stick any object in your ear, however, including 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. This is the exact opposite of what you’re likely attempting to accomplish.
- Take breaks from wearing your hearing aids: If the pain is persistent or severe, it’s okay to take a break from wearing your hearing aid until your ears feel better. You can use alternative methods of communication with friends and family, like texting, in the meantime.
- Regularly clean your hearing aids: Making sure your devices are clean can help to ensure they aren’t transferring bacteria and viruses to your ears (or, at least, that it occurs less frequently.) If you don’t know how to clean and disinfect hearing aids, talk to us for some instruction.
- 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 will be.
You most likely depend heavily on your hearing aid every day. They help you communicate with family and friends and move about the world more easily. Which means that these little devices will usually be difficult to give up, even for a short time. However, you will have a speedier recovery from your ear infection if you take a break from wearing them until you heal up. This will help you get back to feeling better quicker.
Ear infections are fairly common. But you should still get treatment if you notice symptoms. Contact us if you’re wondering how your hearing aid use will be affected by an ear infection.
