Surprisingly, around 20% of all ear infections happen to adults. The common idea is that ear infections are something that usually affect children. And it’s accurate that ear infections are more prevalent in kids, but they also happen frequently in adults.
Ear infections can be particularly uncomfortable for individuals who have hearing loss because they can interfere with their hearing aids. Also, when hearing aids aren’t correctly maintained, they can become a vehicle 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. Hearing aids could aggravate the discomfort and inflammation caused by an ear infection. However, there are some steps that people who use hearing aids can take to help avoid and treat ear infection symptoms.
Can an ear infection be caused by hearing aids?
If you’re an adult with hearing loss and you start 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 more detail 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 a number of paths that bacteria and viruses can take on their way to becoming an infection. Sometimes, an earlier illness, like a cold or sinus infection, will lead to an infection of the inner ear. In other cases, fluid accumulation may result in an infection. And it’s also definitely possible for viruses and bacteria to infect the inner ear via simple transmission.
This can happen with some frequency to people who wear hearing aids. Your hearing aid collects this bacteria or virus and then gets inserted directly into your ear. Correct hearing aid cleaning and maintenance is essential for this reason. Essentially, the hearing aid itself doesn’t cause the ear infection, the virus or bacteria does. But your device might play a role in transmission.
Contact between hearing aids and ear infections
So what is the level 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. Generally speaking, ear infections will have the following symptoms:
- Vertigo or dizziness
- Ear pressure or a feeling of fullness
- Ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
- Ear pain
- Fluid draining from the ear
- Swelling and inflammation
- In some instances, temporary hearing loss
Obviously, everyone 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 a negative interaction with hearing aids for individuals with hearing loss. That’s because the hearing aid is inside the infected ear (at least some of it). Your hearing aids may cause added discomfort as they irritate the tender inflamed infected ear.
Also, with a hearing aid that goes primarily inside the ear canal, fluid drainage can be blocked. When fluids cannot drain, your discomfort might become prolonged. This will also increase the pressure (and pain) you feel in your ears. This pressure can be even more marked when you’re wearing your hearing aid.
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. Which means that wearing hearing aids when you have an ear infection can be an absolutely miserable time.
Ear infection & hearing aid solutions
So what can you do if your hearing aids are bothering you while you have an ear infection? There are several steps you can take to reduce your risk of getting ear infections and to address the discomfort that an ear infection might cause. Here are a few of those steps:
- Practice good ear hygiene: This means regularly cleaning your outer ear and, generally, keeping your ears dry and clean. Don’t try to stick anything 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. This is the exact opposite of what you’re likely attempting to do.
- Talk to your healthcare provider: If you think that you have an ear infection, speak with your doctor as soon as you can. The sooner you address the ear infection, the less severe or prolonged your symptoms may be.
- 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.
- Regularly clean your hearing aids: Keeping your device clean can decrease the chance of transferring bacteria or viruses to your ears. Ask us for help if you’re not certain how to properly clean and sanitize your hearing aids.
- Take breaks from wearing your hearing aids: You can take a break from your hearing aids for a few days if you have significant or lasting pain. You can use alternative methods of communication with family and friends, like texting, in the meantime.
You most likely depend heavily on your hearing aid every day. They help you get around your world more easily and have better communication with your family and friends. 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 illness more quickly and more comfortably. That means you can get back to enjoying what you hear faster.
It’s not uncommon for people to get ear infections. But you should still seek treatment if you detect symptoms. Contact us if you’re wondering how your hearing aid use will be affected by an ear infection.
