Surprisingly, about 20% of all ear infections happen to adults. Most individuals think of ear infections as a childhood sickness, something that impacts primarily young kids. And it’s accurate that ear infections are more prevalent in kids, but they also happen 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 properly cleaned and maintained.
So is it a bad plan to use hearing aids with an ear infection? You can, but it might not be something you want to do. Hearing aids could intensify the discomfort and inflammation caused by an ear infection. However, there are some steps that people who use hearing aids can take to help avoid and treat ear infection symptoms.
Can an ear infection be caused by hearing aids?
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 this ear infection? Technically, the answer is no. But in order to get the full picture we have to view it in greater detail.
Almost all ear infections are caused by bacteria or a virus that gets into the ear. There are a wide variety of vectors that can result in infection. Sometimes, a previous illness, such as a cold or sinus infection, will result in an infection of the inner ear. In other situations, fluid buildup might lead to an infection. And it’s also certainly possible for viruses and bacteria to infect the inner ear through direct transmission.
This can occur with some frequency to people who wear hearing aids. The virus or bacteria latches onto your hearing aid and, when inserted, gets access to the inner ear. Correct hearing aid cleaning and maintenance is crucial for this reason. Essentially, the hearing aid itself does not cause the ear infection, the virus or bacteria does. But your hearing aid is involved in this transmission.
How ear infections interact with hearing aids
So, how do ear infections and hearing aids interact? To understand what to expect, it’s helpful to look at the most common symptoms of an ear infection. Generally speaking, ear infections will present with the following symptoms:
- Ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
- Pain in the ear
- Inflammation and swelling
- Dizziness or vertigo
- Discharge of fluid from the ear
- In some cases, temporary hearing loss
- A feeling of fullness or pressure in the ears
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. These symptoms can have an adverse interaction with hearing aids for those with hearing loss. That’s because your hearing aid will likely (at least in part) reside within the ear canal. Because the ear canal is irritated and tender, your hearing aids could cause additional discomfort.
Also, with a hearing aid that sits mostly inside the ear canal, fluid drainage can be obstructed. When fluids cannot drain, your discomfort might become prolonged. 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.
The performance of your hearing aid can also be impacted by the excess moisture. So your hearing aids aren’t working at peak performance and your ears are in pain. Which means that wearing hearing aids when you have an ear infection can be a downright miserable time.
Ear infection & hearing aid strategies
So what can you do if your hearing aids are bothering you while you have an ear infection? You can lower 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:
- Talk to your hearing specialist: If your ears begin to feel better, but the discomfort from your hearing aids doesn’t recede, think about talking to us to see if you can get a better fit on your devices.
- Practice good ear hygiene: It’s essential to keep your ears clean and dry and routinely clean your outer ear. However, you should never stick any object in your ear and that includes cotton swabs. Using cotton swabs can push earwax and other debris further into your ear, increasing your chance of developing an infection. You’re attempting to accomplish the exact opposite.
- Regularly clean your hearing aids: Keeping your device clean can lessen the risk of transferring bacteria or viruses to your ears. Ask us for assistance if you’re not sure how to correctly clean and disinfect your hearing aids.
- Talk to your healthcare provider: You should talk to your doctor sooner than later if you suspect you might be developing an ear infection. The sooner you address the ear infection, the less severe or prolonged your symptoms will be.
- Take breaks from wearing your hearing aids: If the pain is persistent or significant, it’s okay 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.
You most likely depend heavily on your hearing aid every day. They help you communicate with loved ones and move about the world more easily. Which means that these little devices will usually be hard 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. That means you can get back to enjoying what you hear faster.
Ear infections are fairly common. But you should still get treatment if you detect symptoms. If you have questions about how ear infections may impact your hearing aid use, give us a call today.