Surprisingly, around 20% of all ear infections happen to adults. Most individuals think of ear infections as a childhood ailment, something that impacts primarily young kids. Ear infections are definitely more common in kids but adults do get them too.
Ear infections can be especially uncomfortable for people who have hearing loss because they can interact with their hearing aids. Hearing aids can also harbor germs that could result in an ear infection if they are not correctly cleaned and maintained.
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. 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.
Do hearing aids cause ear infections?
If you’re an adult with hearing loss and you begin to notice the symptoms of an ear infection, you might begin to wonder: did my hearing aids cause my ear infection? The technical answer is no. But more nuance is required to understand the whole story.
Nearly all ear infections are caused by bacteria or a virus that gets into the ear. There are a number of paths that bacteria and viruses can take on their way to becoming an infection. Sometimes, an earlier illness, like a cold or sinus infection, will lead to an infection of the inner ear. An infection may be caused by fluid accumulation in other instances. And it’s also certainly possible for viruses and bacteria to infect the inner ear through direct transmission.
For individuals who use hearing aids, this can be a frequent occurrence. The virus or bacteria latches onto your hearing device and, upon insertion, gets access to the inner ear. That’s why it is crucial for individuals who have hearing loss to correctly maintain and clean their devices. 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.
Contact between hearing aids and ear infections
So what is the level of interaction between hearing aids and ear infections? To know what to expect, it’s useful to look at the most common symptoms of an ear infection. Here are a few of the most prevalent symptoms of ear infections:
- Dizziness or vertigo
- Tinnitus (a ringing in the ears)
- Pain in the ear
- Swelling and inflammation
- In some instances, temporary hearing loss
- A feeling of fullness or pressure in the ears
- Fluid draining from the ear
Needless to say, everybody will experience the symptoms in their own way. Typically, you will have noticeable swelling 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 likely (at least in part) reside within the ear canal. Your hearing aids might cause added soreness as they irritate the tender inflamed infected ear.
Additionally, any in-the-canal hearing aid can prevent drainage. When fluids can’t drain, your discomfort might become prolonged. This will also increase the pressure (and pain) you feel in your ears. This pressure can be even more pronounced when you’re wearing your hearing aid.
This increased moisture can also impede the operation of your hearing aid. 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 may now be thinking: my hearing aids annoy me when I have an ear infection… but what can I do? 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. Here are a few of those steps:
- Talk to your healthcare provider: You should talk to your doctor sooner than later if you believe you might be developing an ear infection. Treating a hearing aid as soon as possible will reduce the risk of it becoming severe or prolonged.
- Practice good ear hygiene: It’s important to keep your ears dry and clean and regularly clean your outer ear. Don’t try to stick anything in your ear, however, including cotton swabs. Using cotton swabs can push earwax and other debris further into your ear, increasing your chance of developing an infection. This is the exact opposite of what you’re likely trying to accomplish.
- 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 friends and family, like texting, in the meantime.
- Regularly clean your hearing aids: Keeping your device clean can reduce the risk of transmitting bacteria or viruses to your ears. If you don’t know how to clean and sanitize hearing aids, talk to us for some instruction.
- 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 uncomfortable.
You most likely depend heavily on your hearing aid every day. They help you communicate with family and friends and move around the world more easily. 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 recuperate from your infection more quickly and more comfortably. This will help you get back to feeling better quicker.
It’s not uncommon for individuals to get ear infections. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t get treatment or try to prevent them. Contact us if you’re wondering how your hearing aid use will be impacted by an ear infection.