Surprisingly, about 20% of all ear infections happen to adults. The common idea is that ear infections are something that usually impact kids. And it’s accurate that ear infections are more prevalent in children, but they also happen frequently in adults.
Ear infections can be especially uncomfortable for individuals who have hearing loss because they can interfere with their hearing aids. Additionally, when hearing aids aren’t properly maintained, they can become a vector for ear infection-causing diseases.
So is it a bad plan to use hearing aids with an ear infection? You can, but it may not be something you want to do. Ear infections can cause significant swelling 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.
Can an ear infection be caused by hearing aids?
You might be wondering if your hearing aid is the cause of your ear infection if you’re an adult with hearing impairment. Technically, the answer is no. But more nuance 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 range of vectors that can result in infection. In some circumstances, the inner ear becomes infected after a past illness (for instance, a sinus infection or a cold). In other situations, fluid buildup might result in an infection. And it’s also certainly possible for viruses and bacteria to infect the inner ear via simple transmission.
For people who wear hearing aids, this can be a frequent occurrence. The virus or bacteria latches onto your hearing device and, upon insertion, gains access to the inner ear. Proper hearing aid cleaning and maintenance is essential for this reason. In other words, the hearing aid itself doesn’t cause the ear infection, the virus or bacteria does. But your hearing aid does play a part in this transmission.
How ear infections interact with hearing aids
So what is the level 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. In general, ear infections will have the following symptoms:
- Vertigo or dizziness
- Inflammation and swelling
- Discharge of fluid from the ear
- Tinnitus (a ringing in the ears)
- Ear pain
- A feeling of fullness or pressure in the ears
- In some instances, temporary hearing loss
Needless to say, everyone will experience the symptoms in their own way. Usually, you will have obvious swelling of the inner ear and ear pain in the infected ear. For individuals 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. Because the ear canal is irritated and tender, your hearing aids might cause additional discomfort.
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 stuck in your ear. The pain and pressure in your ears will be increased as a result of this. When you are wearing your hearing aid, pressure can be even more unpleasant.
This added moisture can also impede the operation of your hearing aid. 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 bothering you during an ear infection? There are several steps you can take to lower your risk of developing ear infections and to address the discomfort that an ear infection might cause. Those steps include the following:
- Talk to your healthcare provider: If you suspect that you have an ear infection, speak with your doctor as soon as possible. The sooner you treat the ear infection, the less severe or prolonged your symptoms may be.
- 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 happens less often.) 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 okay to take a break from wearing your hearing aid until your ears feel better. You can use alternative methods of communication with family and friends, like texting, in the meantime.
- Practice good ear hygiene: This means regularly cleaning your outer ear and, generally, keeping your ears dry and clean. 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 push earwax and debris further up into your ear canal. This is the opposite of what you’re likely attempting to do.
- 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.
You probably depend heavily on your hearing aid every day. They help you navigate 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 recover from your illness more quickly and more comfortably. This will help you get back to feeling better sooner.
It’s not unusual for individuals to get ear infections. 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.