It might be a surprise to many that roughly 20% of all ear infections happen to adults. The common notion is that ear infections are something that normally impact children. And it’s true that ear infections are more prevalent in children, but they also occur frequently in adults.
For adults with hearing impairments or hearing loss, ear infections can be especially inconvenient, as they can interact with hearing aids in some unpleasant ways. 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 plan to use hearing aids with an ear infection? You can, but it might not be something you want to do. Hearing aids could aggravate the discomfort and inflammation caused by an ear infection. 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?
You might be questioning if your hearing aid is the cause of your ear infection if you’re an adult with hearing loss. Technically, the answer is no. But more nuance is needed to understand the complete story.
Nearly all ear infections are caused by bacteria or a virus that gets into the ear. There are quite a few paths that bacteria and viruses can take on their way to becoming an infection. Often, an earlier illness, such as a cold or sinus infection, will lead to an infection of the inner ear. In other cases, fluid accumulation might lead to an infection. It’s also completely 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 latches onto your hearing aid and, upon insertion, gets access to the inner ear. That’s why it is crucial for individuals with hearing impairments to properly maintain and clean their devices. So the virus or bacteria is really the cause of the infection, not the hearing aid itself. But your device might play a role in transmission.
Interactions between hearing aids and ear infections
So what is the degree of interaction between hearing aids and ear infections? The best way to anticipate what to expect is to examine the most prevalent ear infection symptoms. In general, ear infections will present with the following symptoms:
- In some situations, temporary hearing loss
- Fluid draining from the ear
- Swelling and inflammation
- Tinnitus (a ringing in the ears)
- Pain in the ear
- Dizziness or vertigo
- A feeling of fullness or pressure in the ears
Obviously, everybody will experience the symptoms in their own way. Usually, you will have noticeable swelling of the inner ear and ear pain in the infected ear. These symptoms can have an adverse interaction with hearing aids for those with hearing loss. That’s because your hearing aid will most likely (at least partially) sit within the ear canal. Because the ear canal is irritated and tender, your hearing aids may cause extra discomfort.
Also, with a hearing aid that goes 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. When you are wearing your hearing aid, pressure can be even more unpleasant.
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.
Ear infection & hearing aid strategies
So what can you do if your hearing aids are bothering you during an ear infection? 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:
- Talk to your hearing specialist: If your ears start to feel better, but the discomfort from your hearing aids doesn’t go away, consider talking to us to see if you can get a better fit on your devices.
- Practice good ear hygiene: It’s important to keep your ears clean and dry and routinely clean your outer ear. Do not try to stick any object in your ear, however, including cotton swabs. Using cotton swabs can drive earwax and other debris further into your ear, increasing your risk of developing an infection. You’re attempting to accomplish the exact opposite.
- Talk to your healthcare provider: If you think that you have an ear infection, speak with your doctor as soon as possible. Treating a hearing aid as soon as possible will decrease the chance of it becoming severe or prolonged.
- 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 often.) Ask us for help if you’re not sure how to correctly clean and sanitize your hearing aids.
- 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 are feeling better. You can use alternative methods of communication with family and friends, like texting, in the meantime.
You probably depend heavily on your hearing aid every day. They help you communicate with loved ones and move around the world more easily. Which means that these little devices will usually be hard 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. That means you can get back to enjoying what you hear faster.
It’s not uncommon for people to get ear infections. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t seek out treatment or try to prevent them. If you have questions about how ear infections may impact your hearing aid use, give us a call today.