Surprisingly, around 20% of all ear infections happen to adults. The common idea is that ear infections are something that normally affect children. Ear infections are certainly more prevalent in children but adults do get them too.
Ear infections can be particularly unpleasant for people with hearing loss because they can interfere with their hearing aids. Additionally, when hearing aids aren’t 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 significant inflammation and discomfort in the ear, and your hearing aids may exacerbate those symptoms. However, there are some steps that people who use hearing aids can take to help prevent and manage ear infection symptoms.
Do hearing aids cause ear infections?
If you’re an adult with hearing impairment and you start to notice the symptoms of an ear infection, you might begin to wonder: did my hearing aids cause this ear infection? Technically, the answer is no. But more detail is required to understand the complete story.
The vast majority of all ear infections are caused by viruses or bacteria that then infect the inner ear. There are a number of paths that bacteria and viruses can take on their way to becoming an infection. In some instances, the inner ear becomes infected after an earlier illness (for instance, a sinus infection or a cold). An infection might be caused by fluid accumulation in other instances. It’s also entirely possible that a virus or bacteria directly infected the inner ear by physical transmission.
This can occur with some frequency to individuals who use hearing aids. The virus or bacteria hitches a ride on your hearing device and, upon insertion, gains access to the inner ear. That’s why it is crucial for those who have hearing impairments to correctly maintain and clean their devices. So the virus or bacteria is really the cause of the infection, not the hearing aid itself. But your hearing aid is involved in this transmission.
Contact between hearing aids and ear infections
So, how do ear infections and hearing aids interact? To understand what to expect, it’s helpful to look at the most common symptoms of an ear infection. Here are several of the most common symptoms of ear infections:
- Temporary loss of hearing in some situations
- Swelling and inflammation
- Ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
- Dizziness or vertigo
- A feeling of fullness or pressure in the ears
- Ear pain
- Drainage of fluid from the ear
Not everybody will suffer from every symptom, of course. In most cases, your infected ear will be painful 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 your hearing aid will likely (at least partially) reside within the ear canal. Your hearing aids may cause added discomfort as they aggravate the tender inflamed infected ear.
Additionally, any in-the-canal hearing aid can prevent drainage. 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 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. This means that you will have a terrible time wearing your hearing aid while you have an ear infection.
Strategies to wearing hearing aids with an ear infection
You may 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:
- Take breaks from wearing your hearing aids: If the pain is prolonged or significant, 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 friends and family, like texting, in the meantime.
- Regularly clean your hearing aids: Making sure your devices are clean can help to ensure they aren’t transmitting bacteria and viruses to your ears (or, at least, that it occurs less often.) Ask us for assistance if you’re not certain how to correctly clean and disinfect your hearing aids.
- Talk to your healthcare provider: If you suspect that you have an ear infection, talk to your doctor as soon as possible. Treating a hearing aid as soon as possible will reduce the risk of it becoming severe or prolonged.
- Practice good ear hygiene: It’s important to keep your ears dry and clean and routinely clean your outer ear. Do not try to stick anything in your ear, however, including cotton swabs. Using cotton swabs can push 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: If your ears begin to feel better, but the discomfort from your hearing aids doesn’t recede, consider talking to us to see if you can get a better fit on your devices.
Hearing aids are most likely an essential part of your daily life. They help you navigate your world more easily and have better communication with your family and friends. Which means that these little devices will usually be difficult 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. This will help you get back to feeling better sooner.
Ear infections are fairly common. But you should still seek treatment if you notice symptoms. If you have questions about how ear infections may affect your hearing aid use, give us a call today.