It might be a surprise to many that approximately 20% of all ear infections happen to adults. Most people think of ear infections as a childhood sickness, something that impacts mainly young kids. Ear infections are definitely more common in children but adults do get them too.
Ear infections can be especially uncomfortable for individuals with hearing loss because they can interfere with their hearing aids. Also, when hearing aids are not correctly maintained, they can become a vector for ear infection-causing diseases.
So is it a bad idea to use hearing aids with an ear infection? You can, but it might not be something you want to do. Ear infections can cause considerable swelling and discomfort in the ear, and your hearing aids may exacerbate those symptoms. But individuals 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 begin to notice the symptoms of an ear infection, you might begin to wonder: did my hearing aids cause my ear infection? The technical answer is no. But in order to get the full picture we have 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 result in infection. In some instances, the inner ear becomes infected after a previous illness (for example, a sinus infection or a cold). An infection might be caused by fluid accumulation in other instances. And it’s also definitely possible for viruses and bacteria to infect the inner ear through simple transmission.
For individuals who use hearing aids, this can be a frequent occurrence. The virus or bacteria hitches a ride on your hearing device and, when inserted, gets access to the inner ear. That’s why it is crucial for individuals who have hearing loss to properly 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.
Interactions between hearing aids and ear infections
So, how do ear infections and hearing aids interact? To know what to expect, it’s useful to look at the most common symptoms of an ear infection. Here are a few of the most prevalent symptoms of ear infections:
- Fluid draining from the ear
- Temporary loss of hearing in some situations
- Inflammation and swelling
- Ear pain
- A feeling of fullness or pressure in the ears
- Tinnitus (a ringing in the ears)
- Dizziness or vertigo
Not everybody will experience every symptom, of course. In most cases, your infected ear will be painful and there will likely be obvious 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 likely (at least partially) reside within the ear canal. Because the ear canal is inflamed and tender, your hearing aids may cause additional discomfort.
Also, with a hearing aid that goes primarily inside the ear canal, fluid drainage can be blocked. When fluids can’t drain, your discomfort may become prolonged. The pain and pressure in your ears will be increased because of this. When you are wearing your hearing aid, pressure can be even more uncomfortable.
This increased moisture can also impair the function of your hearing aid. So your ears are in more pain and your hearing aid doesn’t really work as well as it should. This means that you will have a horrible time wearing your hearing aid while you have an ear infection.
Solutions to wearing hearing aids with an ear infection
So what can you do if your hearing aids are annoying you during 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. Those steps include the following:
- 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. 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 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 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 jam earwax and debris further up into your ear canal. This is the exact opposite of what you’re likely attempting to do.
- Regularly clean your hearing aids: Making sure your devices are clean can help to ensure they aren’t transferring bacteria and viruses to your ears (or, at least, that it occurs less frequently.) Ask us for assistance if you’re not sure how to properly clean and sanitize your hearing aids.
- Talk to your hearing specialist: Consider coming in to have your hearing aid re-fit if your ear infection goes away but your hearing aid is still not comfortable.
Hearing aids are most likely an essential part of your daily life. They help you get around your world more easily and have better communication with your friends and family. 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 infection more quickly and more comfortably. That means you can get back to enjoying what you hear faster.
Ear infections are relatively common. But you should still seek treatment if you notice symptoms. If you have questions about how ear infections may impact your hearing aid use, give us a call today.