Mesa Chandler Phoenix Gilbert hearing aid doctor
When first getting a new hearing aid, most people are excited to have improved hearing, so they can do things like participate fully in conversations and hear music well, often for the first time in years. However, some people experience a few challenges in the first days and weeks of having a new hearing aid. One thing that happens to some people is that their ears feel itchy.
Why might hearing aids cause your ears to itch? Is there anything that you can do to address this problem?
Itching could be a sign of a problem
If you do experience itching, it’s best to visit your audiologist to check it out. There are a few potential causes of itching that we can address, to help you feel more comfortable.
Some people have an allergy to particular materials. If you’re allergic to a component of your hearing aid, then we can try a different one that doesn’t contain the material that you’re allergic to. Allergies to cleaning solutions are also possible, and changing the cleaning solution that you use is sometimes helpful.
Itching in the ear canal can also indicate an infection. Wearing a hearing aid can cause moisture to build up in the ear canal, and this can make it more vulnerable to infection. You may need a topical antibiotic to treat this problem. It’s important to keep both your hearing aids and your ears as clean and dry as possible, to reduce the risk of infection.
Another potential cause of irritation is a poor fit of the hearing aids. If you find that your hearing aids are causing itching, then they may not be fitting quite right, and you may need to have them adjusted in order to resolve the irritation.
Itching will often go away over time
If you don’t have an allergy or infection in your ear canal, then the itching caused by your hearing aids may just be a part of your body’s adjustment period to wearing them. The skin inside the ear canals is very sensitive. Even just a hair inside the ear canal can often cause itching.
When you first start wearing hearing aids, this sensitive skin may feel a bit itchy due to the contact with the device, even if it fits well. Over time, as your ear canal gets used to the hearing aid, this sensation should diminish. Most people find that sensations like itching go away over a few weeks. In some cases, using lubricant may help, although it’s important to ensure that you’re using a lubricant that won’t cause problems with your hearing aid. Your audiologist can recommend one if this would be a good option to try.
Mesa Chandler Phoenix Gilbert hearing aid doctor
In general, if you’re experiencing any challenges with your new hearing aid, it’s a good idea to check in with your audiologist. They can take a look at your ear canal and check the fit of your hearing aid to determine whether there are any issues that may need to be addressed. If everything looks good, then you’ll most likely notice that the itchy sensations decrease over the next few weeks. Please contact our office to schedule an appointment with one of our expert hearing doctors.