Surprisingly, about 20% of all ear infections happen to adults. The common idea is that ear infections are something that usually impact children. And it’s true that ear infections are more prevalent in kids, but they also happen frequently in adults.
Ear infections can be particularly unpleasant for individuals with hearing loss because they can interfere with their hearing aids. Hearing aids can also shelter germs that could lead to an ear infection if they aren’t correctly cleaned and maintained.
So is it a bad idea to use hearing aids with an ear infection? In general, the answer is yes, but you may not want to. Ear infections can cause considerable inflammation and discomfort in the ear, and your hearing aids might worsen those symptoms. But individuals who use hearing aids can take a few steps to treat 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 may 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. Sometimes, a previous illness, such as a cold or sinus infection, will result in an infection of the inner ear. An infection may be caused by fluid buildup in other instances. It’s also entirely feasible that a virus or bacteria directly infected the inner ear by physical transmission.
This can happen with some frequency to individuals who wear hearing aids. Your hearing aid collects this bacteria or virus and then gets inserted directly into your ear. That’s why it is crucial for individuals with hearing impairments to correctly maintain and clean their devices. In other words, the hearing aid itself does not cause the ear infection, the virus or bacteria does. But your hearing aid is involved in this transmission.
How ear infections interact with hearing aids
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 common symptoms of an ear infection. In general, ear infections will present with the following symptoms:
- A feeling of fullness or pressure in the ears
- Vertigo or dizziness
- Tinnitus (a ringing in the ears)
- Ear pain
- Inflammation and swelling
- In some instances, temporary hearing loss
- Drainage of fluid from the ear
Not everybody will experience every symptom, of course. In most cases, your infected ear will hurt and there will 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 the hearing aid is inside the infected ear (at least some of it). Your hearing aids may cause added soreness as they aggravate the tender inflamed infected ear.
Additionally, any in-the-canal hearing aid can prevent drainage. When fluids cannot drain, your discomfort may 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 unpleasant.
This increased moisture can also impede 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.
Ear infection & hearing aid strategies
You may now be thinking: my hearing aids annoy me when I have an ear infection… but what can I do? You can reduce your risk of getting an ear infection and manage any discomfort that an ear infection might cause by taking a few steps. Here are a few of those steps:
- Take breaks from wearing your hearing aids: If the pain is prolonged or severe, it’s okay to take a break from wearing your hearing aid until your ears feel better. You can use alternative methods of communication with family and friends, like texting, in the meantime.
- Talk to your healthcare provider: You should talk to your doctor sooner than later if you think you might be developing an ear infection. Treating a hearing aid as soon as possible will decrease the risk of it becoming severe or prolonged.
- 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.
- 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 happens less often.) If you don’t know how to clean and disinfect hearing aids, talk to us for a quick tutorial.
- Practice good ear hygiene: It’s essential to keep your ears dry and clean and regularly 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 probably depend heavily on your hearing aid every day. They help you communicate with family and friends and move around the world more easily. That makes it really hard to give up your hearing aid even for short periods. 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.
It’s not unusual for people to get ear infections. But you should still get treatment if you detect symptoms. Contact us if you’re wondering how your hearing aid use will be impacted by an ear infection.