It might be a surprise to many that approximately 20% of all ear infections occur in adults. Most people think of ear infections as a childhood illness, something that impacts primarily young kids. And it’s accurate that ear infections are more common in kids, but they also occur frequently in adults.
Ear infections can be particularly uncomfortable for people with hearing loss because they can interact with their hearing aids. Additionally, when hearing aids aren’t correctly maintained, they can become a vehicle for ear infection-causing diseases.
So, you might be wondering: Can I use hearing aids while I have an ear infection? Overall, 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 might exacerbate those symptoms. However, there are some steps that those who use hearing aids can take to help prevent and manage ear infection symptoms.
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. The technical answer is no. But in order to get the full picture we have to look at it in greater detail.
The vast majority of all ear infections are due to viruses or bacteria that then infect the inner ear. There are a wide variety of vectors that can lead to infection. Often, an earlier illness, like a cold or sinus infection, will result in an infection of the inner ear. An infection may be caused by fluid accumulation in other situations. It’s also entirely possible that a virus or bacteria directly infected the inner ear by physical transmission.
For individuals who use hearing aids, this can be a frequent occurrence. Your hearing aid accumulates this bacteria or virus and then gets inserted directly into your ear. That’s why it is critical for people who have hearing impairments to properly maintain and clean their devices. 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.
Contact between hearing aids and ear infections
So, how do ear infections and hearing aids interact? The best way to anticipate what to expect is to look at the most common ear infection symptoms. In general, ear infections will present with the following symptoms:
- A feeling of fullness or pressure in the ears
- Dizziness or vertigo
- Ear pain
- Tinnitus (a ringing in the ears)
- Inflammation and swelling
- Drainage of fluid from the ear
- Temporary loss of hearing in some situations
Not everyone will suffer from every symptom, of course. Usually, you will have noticeable swelling of the inner ear and ear pain in the infected ear. These symptoms can have a negative interaction with hearing aids for individuals with hearing loss. That’s because your hearing aid will likely (at least in part) sit within the ear canal. Your hearing aids may cause added soreness as they aggravate the tender inflamed infected ear.
Also, with a hearing aid that sits mostly inside the ear canal, fluid drainage can be blocked. When fluids cannot 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 marked when you’re wearing your hearing aid.
The functionality of your hearing aid can also be impacted by the extra moisture. So your hearing aids aren’t functioning at peak performance and your ears are in pain. This means that you will have a terrible 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? You can reduce your risk of developing an ear infection and address 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 speak with your doctor sooner than later if you suspect 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.
- Take breaks from wearing your hearing aids: You can take a break from your hearing aids for a few days if you have significant or lasting pain. During this interim period, you can pursue other ways of communicating with your loved ones (like texting or writing messages on a piece of paper, and so on).
- 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.
- Regularly clean your hearing aids: Keeping your device clean can reduce the risk of transferring bacteria or viruses to your ears. Ask us for help if you’re not certain how to properly clean and sanitize your hearing aids.
- Practice good ear hygiene: This means regularly cleaning your outer ear and, generally, keeping your ears clean and dry. 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 risk of developing an infection. You’re trying to accomplish the exact opposite.
Hearing aids are most likely an essential part of your everyday life. They help you navigate your world more easily and have better communication with your family and friends. Which means that these little devices will usually be hard 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 recuperate from your sickness more quickly and more comfortably. That means you can get back to enjoying what you hear faster.
Ear infections are fairly common. But you should still seek treatment if you detect symptoms. If you have questions about how ear infections may impact your hearing aid use, give us a call today.