It may be a surprise to many people that approximately 20% of all ear infections occur in adults. The common notion is that ear infections are something that usually 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 especially inconvenient, as they can interact with hearing aids in some uncomfortable ways. Additionally, when hearing aids aren’t correctly maintained, they can become a vector for ear infection-causing diseases.
So, you may be wondering: Can I wear hearing aids while I have an ear infection? You can, but it may not be something you want to do. Hearing aids could intensify the discomfort and swelling caused by an ear infection. But people who use hearing aids can take a few steps to treat and possibly prevent ear infections.
Do hearing aids cause ear infections?
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? The technical answer is no. But in order to get the full picture we need to look at it in greater detail.
Nearly all ear infections are caused by bacteria or a virus that gets into the ear. There are a wide variety of vectors that can lead to infection. In some cases, the inner ear becomes infected after a past illness (for example, a sinus infection or a cold). An infection might be caused by fluid buildup in other situations. And it’s also certainly possible for viruses and bacteria to infect the inner ear via simple 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. Correct hearing aid cleaning and maintenance is crucial for this reason. So the virus or bacteria is actually the cause of the infection, not the hearing aid itself. But your device could play a role in 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 prevalent symptoms of an ear infection. Here are some of the most common symptoms of ear infections:
- In some instances, temporary hearing loss
- Tinnitus (a ringing in the ears)
- Drainage of fluid from the ear
- A feeling of fullness or pressure in the ears
- Vertigo or dizziness
- Ear pain
- Inflammation and swelling
Not everyone will suffer from every symptom, of course. In most circumstances, your infected ear will be painful and there will most likely be noticeable inflammation around the inner ear. For people with hearing loss, these symptoms can interact unfavorably with your hearing aids. That’s because the hearing aid is inside the infected ear (at least some of it). Because the ear canal is inflamed and tender, your hearing aids may cause additional discomfort.
Also, with a hearing aid that sits primarily inside the ear canal, fluid drainage can be obstructed. Your infection and discomfort may 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 uncomfortable.
The performance of your hearing aid can also be impacted by the excess moisture. So your ears are in more pain and your hearing aid isn’t really working as well as it should. Which means that wearing hearing aids when you have an ear infection can be an absolutely 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? There are a number of steps you can take to reduce your risk of developing ear infections and to manage the discomfort that an ear infection might cause. Here are a few of those steps:
- Take breaks from wearing your hearing aids: You can take a break from your hearing aids for a few days if you have severe or lasting pain. During this interim period, you can pursue other ways of communicating with your loved ones (such as texting or writing messages on a piece of paper, and so on).
- Talk to your healthcare provider: If you suspect that you have an ear infection, talk to your doctor as soon as you can. Treating a hearing aid as soon as possible will reduce the risk of it becoming severe or prolonged.
- Practice good ear hygiene: This means routinely cleaning your outer ear and, generally, keeping your ears clean and dry. However, you should never stick any object in your ear and that includes cotton swabs. With a cotton swabs, your risk of developing an ear infection increases because you could push earwax and debris further up into your ear canal. You’re trying to accomplish the exact opposite.
- Regularly clean your hearing aids: Keeping your device clean can reduce the chance of transferring bacteria or viruses to your ears. Ask us for help if you’re not sure how to properly clean and disinfect your hearing aids.
- 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 uncomfortable.
Hearing aids are most likely an essential part of your everyday life. They help you communicate with family and friends and move around the world more easily. Which means that these little devices can often be difficult to give up, even for a short time. However, you will have a faster recovery from your ear infection if you take a break from wearing them until you heal up. This will help you get back to feeling better sooner.
Ear infections are fairly common. But you should still seek treatment if you detect symptoms. Contact us if you’re wondering how your hearing aid use will be impacted by an ear infection.