It may be a surprise to many people that roughly 20% of all ear infections occur in adults. The common notion is that ear infections are something that normally affect children. Ear infections are definitely more prevalent in kids but adults do get them too.
For adults with hearing impairments or hearing loss, ear infections can be particularly inconvenient, as they can interact with hearing aids in some unpleasant ways. Also, when hearing aids aren’t properly 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. Ear infections can cause significant swelling and discomfort in the ear, and your hearing aids may exacerbate those symptoms. But people who use hearing aids can take a few steps to manage and possibly prevent ear infections.
Do hearing aids cause ear infections?
If you’re an adult with hearing impairment and you begin to notice the symptoms of an ear infection, you might begin to wonder: did my hearing aids cause this ear infection? The technical answer is no. But more detail is needed to understand the whole story.
Almost all ear infections are caused by bacteria or a virus that gets into the ear. There are a wide range of vectors that can lead to 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 accumulation may result in 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. 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 loss 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 does play a part in this transmission.
Contact between hearing aids and ear infections
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 common ear infection symptoms. Here are some of the most common symptoms of ear infections:
- Vertigo or dizziness
- Discharge of fluid from the ear
- Ear pressure or a feeling of fullness
- Ear pain
- Swelling and inflammation
- In some cases, temporary hearing loss
- Ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
Not everybody will suffer from every symptom, of course. In most circumstances, your infected ear will hurt and there will most likely be noticeable swelling around the inner ear. For those 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) sit 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 stop drainage. When fluids can’t drain, your discomfort might become prolonged. This will also increase the pressure (and pain) you feel in your ears. When you are wearing your hearing aid, pressure can be even more uncomfortable.
The functionality of your hearing aid can also be impacted by the excess moisture. So your hearing aids aren’t functioning 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.
Strategies 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? There are several steps you can take to lower your risk of developing ear infections and to manage the discomfort that an ear infection may cause. Those steps include the following:
- Regularly clean your hearing aids: Keeping your device clean can reduce the chance of transferring bacteria or viruses to your ears. Ask us for assistance if you’re not certain how to properly clean and disinfect your hearing aids.
- Practice good ear hygiene: It’s important to keep your ears clean and dry and regularly clean your outer ear. Do not try to stick any object in your ear, however, including cotton swabs. Using cotton swabs can drive earwax and other debris further into your ear, increasing your risk of developing an infection. You’re trying to accomplish the exact opposite.
- Talk to your hearing specialist: Think about coming in to have your hearing aid re-fit if your ear infection clears but your hearing aid is still not comfortable.
- Talk to your healthcare provider: If you think that you have an ear infection, speak with your doctor as soon as you can. Treating a hearing aid as soon as possible will reduce the chance of it becoming severe or prolonged.
- Take breaks from wearing your hearing aids: You can take a break from your hearing aids for a while if you have severe or persistent pain. You can use alternative methods of communication with family and friends, like texting, in the meantime.
Hearing aids are likely an essential part of your daily life. 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, taking a break from your hearing aids while you have an ear infection can help you recuperate from your illness more quickly and more comfortably. That means you can get back to enjoying what you hear faster.
It’s not uncommon for people 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 affected by an ear infection.