Surprisingly, around 20% of all ear infections happen to adults. Most people think of ear infections as a childhood illness, something that impacts primarily young kids. Ear infections are definitely more prevalent in kids but adults do get them too.
Ear infections can be especially unpleasant for individuals with hearing loss because they can interact with their hearing aids. Hearing aids can also harbor germs that could result in an ear infection if they are not properly cleaned and maintained.
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 inflammation 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 treat ear infection symptoms.
Can an ear infection be caused by hearing aids?
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 my ear infection? Technically, the answer is no. But in order to get the full picture we need to view it in greater detail.
The vast majority of all ear infections are caused by viruses or bacteria that then infect the inner ear. There are a wide variety of vectors that can result in infection. Often, a previous illness, such as a cold or sinus infection, will lead to an infection of the inner ear. An infection might be caused by fluid accumulation in other instances. And it’s also certainly possible for viruses and bacteria to infect the inner ear through direct transmission.
For individuals who wear 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 crucial for those who have hearing loss to correctly maintain and clean their devices. Essentially, the hearing aid itself doesn’t 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 what is the degree of interaction between hearing aids and ear infections? To know what to expect, it’s helpful to look at the most prevalent symptoms of an ear infection. In general, ear infections will present with the following symptoms:
- Inflammation and swelling
- Ear pressure or a feeling of fullness
- Temporary loss of hearing in some cases
- Dizziness or vertigo
- Discharge of fluid from the ear
- Tinnitus (a ringing in the ears)
- Pain in the ear
Needless to say, everybody will experience the symptoms in their own way. Usually, you will have obvious inflammation of the inner ear and ear pain in the infected ear. For people with hearing loss, these symptoms can interact unfavorably with your hearing aids. That’s because the hearing aid goes inside the infected ear (at least some of it). 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 blocked. Your infection and discomfort may last longer if fluid is stuck in your ear. The pain and pressure in your ears will be increased because of this. This pressure can be even more pronounced when you’re wearing your hearing aid.
This added moisture can also impair the operation of your hearing aid. 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.
Strategies to wearing hearing aids with an ear infection
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 lower your risk of getting ear infections and to manage the discomfort that an ear infection might cause. Here are a few of those steps:
- 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.
- 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.
- Talk to your healthcare provider: You should talk to your doctor sooner than later if you suspect you may be developing an ear infection. Treating a hearing aid as soon as possible will decrease the risk of it becoming severe or prolonged.
- Regularly clean your hearing aids: Keeping your device clean can reduce the risk of transferring bacteria or viruses to your ears. If you don’t know how to clean and disinfect hearing aids, talk to us for some instruction.
- Practice good ear hygiene: It’s essential to keep your ears clean and dry and routinely clean your outer ear. Do not try to stick anything in your ear, however, including 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.
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. That makes it really hard to give up your hearing aid even for short periods. However, taking a break from your hearing aids while you have an ear infection can help you recover from your illness more quickly and more comfortably. This will help you get back to feeling better sooner.
It’s not uncommon for individuals to get ear infections. But you should still get treatment if you detect symptoms. If you have questions about how ear infections may affect your hearing aid use, give us a call today.