Can You Use Hearing Aids While Having an Ear Infection?

Terrible ear pain, young woman

Surprisingly, around 20% of all ear infections afflict adults. Most individuals think of ear infections as a childhood sickness, something that affects primarily young kids. And it’s true that ear infections are more common in kids, 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 harbor germs that could result in an ear infection if they are not correctly cleaned and maintained.

So, you might be wondering: Can I wear hearing aids while I have an ear infection? In general, the answer is yes, but you may not want to. Hearing aids could aggravate the discomfort and swelling 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 wondering if your hearing aid is the cause of your ear infection if you’re an adult with hearing loss. The technical answer is no. But more detail is required to understand the whole story.

Almost all ear infections are caused by bacteria or a virus that gets into the ear. There are a wide variety of vectors that can lead to 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 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 occur with some frequency to people who use hearing aids. Your hearing aid accumulates this bacteria or virus and then gets inserted directly into your ear. That’s why it is critical for those who have hearing loss to properly maintain and clean their devices. Essentially, the hearing aid itself does not cause the ear infection, the virus or bacteria does. But your hearing aid does play a part in this 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. Here are a few of the most prevalent symptoms of ear infections:

  • Ear pain
  • Swelling and inflammation
  • Fluid draining from the ear
  • A feeling of fullness or pressure in the ears
  • Ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
  • Dizziness or vertigo
  • Temporary loss of hearing in some cases

Needless to say, everyone will experience the symptoms in their own way. Typically, you will have obvious swelling of the inner ear and ear pain in the infected 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). Because the ear canal is irritated and tender, your hearing aids may cause additional discomfort.

Additionally, any in-the-canal hearing aid can stop drainage. Your infection and discomfort might last longer if fluid is stuck in your ear. 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 uncomfortable.

The performance of your hearing aid can also be impacted by the excess moisture. So your hearing aids aren’t working at peak performance and your ears are in pain. Which means that wearing hearing aids when you have an ear infection can be a downright miserable time.

Ear infection & hearing aid strategies

You may now be thinking: my hearing aids bother me when I have an ear infection… but what can I do? You can reduce your risk of developing an ear infection and address any discomfort that an ear infection may cause by taking a few steps. Those steps include the following:

  • 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 happens less often.) Ask us for assistance if you’re not sure how to correctly clean and disinfect your hearing aids.
  • Talk to your healthcare provider: You should speak with your doctor sooner than later if you suspect you may be developing an ear infection. Treating a hearing aid as soon as possible will decrease the chance of it becoming severe or prolonged.
  • Practice good ear hygiene: This means regularly 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 chance 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 trying to do.
  • 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.
  • 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 family and friends, like texting, in the meantime.

Hearing aids are most likely a crucial part of your daily life. They help you communicate with family and friends and move about the world more easily. Which means that these little devices can often 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 sickness more quickly and more comfortably. This will help you get back to feeling better quicker.

Ear infections are fairly common. 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 affect your hearing aid use, give us a call today.

The site information is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. To receive personalized advice or treatment, schedule an appointment.

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