Surprisingly, about 20% of all ear infections afflict adults. The common notion is that ear infections are something that usually affect children. And it’s true that ear infections are more common in children, but they also happen frequently in adults.
For adults with hearing impairments or hearing loss, ear infections can be especially inconvenient, as they can interact with hearing aids in some uncomfortable ways. Also, when hearing aids are not correctly maintained, they can become a vehicle for ear infection-causing diseases.
So, you might be wondering: Can I wear hearing aids while I have 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. But people who use hearing aids can take a few steps to manage and possibly prevent ear infections.
Can an ear infection be caused by hearing aids?
If you’re an adult with hearing loss and you start 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 complete picture we have to view it in greater detail.
Nearly all ear infections are caused by bacteria or a virus that gets into the ear. There are quite a few paths that bacteria and viruses can take on their way to becoming an infection. Often, a previous illness, such as a cold or sinus infection, will result in an infection of the inner ear. An infection might be caused by fluid buildup in other instances. And it’s also definitely possible for viruses and bacteria to infect the inner ear via direct transmission.
This can occur with some frequency to people who wear hearing aids. The virus or bacteria latches onto your hearing device and, upon insertion, gains access to the inner ear. That’s why it is crucial for people who have hearing impairments to correctly maintain and clean their devices. So the virus or bacteria is really the cause of the infection, not the hearing aid itself. But your device could play a role in transmission.
Interactions 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 examine the most prevalent ear infection symptoms. Here are a few of the most common symptoms of ear infections:
- Dizziness or vertigo
- Ear pain
- In some instances, temporary hearing loss
- Tinnitus (a ringing in the ears)
- Ear pressure or a feeling of fullness
- Drainage of fluid from the ear
- Inflammation and swelling
Not everyone will suffer from every symptom, of course. In the majority of circumstances, your infected ear will hurt and there will likely be noticeable swelling around the inner ear. For individuals 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. Because the ear canal is irritated and tender, your hearing aids could cause additional discomfort.
Additionally, any in-the-canal hearing aid can prevent drainage. Your infection and discomfort may last longer if fluid is trapped in your ear. The pain and pressure in your ears will be increased because of this. This pressure can be even more marked 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.
Ear infection & hearing aid strategies
So what can you do if your hearing aids are annoying you while you have an ear infection? There are a number of steps you can take to reduce your risk of getting ear infections and to address the discomfort that an ear infection may cause. Those steps include the following:
- Talk to your healthcare provider: You should speak with your doctor sooner than later if you think you might be developing an ear infection. The sooner you treat the ear infection, the less severe or prolonged your symptoms may be.
- 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. Using cotton swabs can push earwax and other debris further into your ear, increasing your risk of developing an infection. This is the opposite of what you’re likely attempting to do.
- Take breaks from wearing your hearing aids: You can take a break from your hearing aids for a while if you have significant or lasting pain. You can use alternative methods of communication with family and friends, like texting, in the meantime.
- Regularly clean your hearing aids: Making sure your devices are clean can help to ensure they aren’t transmitting bacteria and viruses to your ears (or, at least, that it happens less often.) Ask us for assistance if you’re not certain how to properly clean and sanitize your hearing aids.
- 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.
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 difficult to give up, even for a short time. However, you will have a quicker 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 relatively common. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t get treatment or try to prevent them. If you have questions about how ear infections might impact your hearing aid use, give us a call today.