It’s winter. Is it a good idea to wear hearing aids if you’re sick? Learn about it here.
When cold and flu season hits, staying comfortable becomes a priority, but if you rely on hearing aids, your routine may suddenly feel a bit more complicated. Congestion, ear pressure, sinus issues, and increased moisture can affect both your hearing and the performance of your devices. Understanding how wearing hearing aids while sick impacts your ears—and how to care for your hearing aids during illness—can help you stay connected without risking damage or discomfort.
How Illness Affects Your Hearing
Even a minor cold can change how sound travels through your ears. Sinus pressure and congestion may cause temporary hearing loss or muffled sound, making you more dependent on your hearing aids. Common symptoms that can impact your hearing include:
- Ear congestion: Fluid buildup or pressure in the middle ear makes sound feel muffled.
- Sinus inflammation: Blocked passages affect how clearly you hear.
- Coughing and sneezing: These can create pressure shifts that affect how well your hearing aids sit in your ears.
- Excess moisture: Runny noses and sweating from fever increase humidity, which can affect moisture-sensitive components.
Because of these fluctuations, wearing hearing aids while sick may feel different day to day, and that’s normal.
Should You Keep Wearing Your Hearing Aids When You’re Sick?
In most cases, yes, you can continue wearing your hearing aids. They help you communicate and go about your routine. However, comfort and safety should guide your decision. Stop wearing your hearing aids temporarily if:
- They cause pain or irritation in sensitive or inflamed ears
- You have an ear infection diagnosed by a doctor
- There is unusual discharge from your ear
- You experience sudden or significant hearing changes
If in doubt, consult your audiologist or ENT physician.
Tips for Wearing Hearing Aids While Sick
Keep Your Hearing Aids Extra Dry
Humidity increases during illness, and moisture is the enemy of delicate electronics. Use a hearing aid dehumidifier overnight, wipe devices throughout the day, and make sure your ears are fully dry after showering.
Clean Your Hearing Aids More Frequently
More congestion often means more earwax. Wax can clog receivers and vents, reducing sound quality. While sick, clean your hearing aids daily to prevent buildup and protect the hardware.
Check Fit and Comfort
Inflammation or pressure changes may shift how your hearing aids sit in your ears. If they feel sore or unusually tight, take short breaks or switch to a lower-wear schedule until you feel better.
Adjust Your Settings as Needed
Muffled hearing from congestion can make familiar settings sound “off.” Try increasing volume slightly or switching to a preset program recommended by your audiologist for challenging listening days.
Avoid Wearing Hearing Aids With an Ear Infection
If you are diagnosed with an ear infection, remove your hearing aids until your healthcare provider clears you to use them again. Moisture and bacteria can cause further complications.
Disinfect Regularly
Illness spreads easily through shared surfaces. Use hearing aid-safe disinfecting wipes to keep devices hygienic, especially after coughing or sneezing.
When to Contact Your Audiologist
Reach out for professional guidance if you notice:
- Persistent muffled hearing even after recovery
- Pain when inserting or wearing hearing aids
- Excessive wax buildup or new drainage from the ear
- Devices malfunctioning due to moisture or debris
Quick professional attention can prevent long-term issues with both your hearing and your devices.
Staying Connected When You’re Not Feeling Your Best
Being sick makes everyday tasks more challenging, but with proper care, wearing hearing aids while sick doesn’t have to be stressful. Paying close attention to ear health, adjusting your routine, and keeping your devices clean ensures you stay as comfortable and connected as possible during recovery.
Trust the Experts at Clarity Audiology & Hearing Solutions
Need help with your hearing? Clarity Hearing can help. Clarity Audiology & Hearing Solutions is an independently owned and operated clinic that focuses on quality of care and personalized, friendly service to the surrounding areas of Ellicott City, Catonsville, Columbia. Our Doctors of Audiology are highly trained with advanced degrees and take the time to provide the personalized care and attention that you need and deserve. We provide advanced hearing aid options that are personally calibrated with cutting-edge digital technology to fit your hearing loss, your unique ear anatomy, and your individual listening needs.
You can call us today to schedule a FREE Hearing Protection Consultation at 410-698-6594! For more blog posts, news, and updates, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and LinkedIn.