How to Protect Your Ears and Hearing Aids This Winter

When temperatures drop, the risk of hearing problems rises. Winter hearing issues can be due to the chill of the outdoors or the spread of colds, flu and other seasonal ailments, says Virginia Gural-Toth, doctor of audiology, CCC-A, manager of the Audiology, Tinnitus and Balance Programs at the Center for Audiology at JFK Johnson Rehabilitation Institute.

The Cold Truth: How Colds Impact Your Ears

“When you get a cold, your ears can get clogged,” Virginia says.This happens when your ears, nose or sinus passages swell, pushing fluid into your middle ear. “If you have a cold, that sense of fullness is temporary. As your cold gets better, so does your ear pressure,” she says. “Fluids get absorbed, and you bounce back.”

However, some viruses may linger and cause ear infections. “Without treatment, a longer infection could damage the nerves in your ear. This can lead to balance issues and permanent hearing loss,” Virginia says.

Though that’s less likely to happen, it’s reason enough to act. Virginia recommends seeing your doctor immediately if you have sudden hearing loss. “The sooner your doctor treats it, the more likely your hearing will return.”

Does Winter Affect Ear Wax?

Cold ears can harden ear wax, which can cause dizziness, pain, ringing in your ears and even hearing loss.

Ear wax protects the ear canal from water, infection, injury and foreign objects. “Normally, your ears are self-cleaning, and tiny hairs in your ear push wax out,” Virginia says. But sometimes cold temperatures harden the wax and plug ears.

For clogged ears:

• Do not stick anything in your ear. “As I like to say, don’t stick anything smaller than an elbow in your ear,” Virginia says. This includes cotton swabs, which she says can push ear wax farther into the ear. Instead, clean only the outer part of your ear, including the lobe. 

• Follow up with your primary care doctor if you have excess ear wax or if it’s too hard.

Caring for Hearing Aids in Winter

When you shovel snow or exercise, your ears will sweat, and that moisture may damage hearing devices.

“Hearing aids are like tiny computers in your ear,” Virginia says. “When your ear sweats, moisture can enter the device and cause it to malfunction.” She suggests some simple actions to protect your hearing devices when the temperature drops:

• Remove your hearing aids when doing activity that causes you to sweat.
• Wipe down devices daily with a soft, dry cloth, and check their sound ports and microphones to make sure wax isn’t blocking them.
• Change wax filters and domes monthly.
• Use the tools in your hearing aid kit weekly to clean more thoroughly. Also, schedule professional cleanings with your audiologist every six months.
• If you’re concerned about moisture, store hearing aids in a dehumidifier made for that purpose. They remove dampness with gel or crystals.

Next Steps & Resources

The material provided through HealthU is intended to be used as general information only and should not replace the advice of your physician. Always consult your physician for individual care.