The skin-infection ointment Neosporin has become a silver bullet for some who want to keep their hearing aids clean. But is Neosporin the right tool for the job?
Ear infections can cost between $25 and $250 per doctor’s appointment. If you choose the wrong cleaning agent for your hearing aid dome, you may suffer multiple inconveniences.
That’s why you must be careful when seeking answers to the question, “Can I use Neosporin in my hearing aid domes?” Read this definitive guide to learn whether or not you can use Neosporin to keep your hearing aid domes clean. You will also discover a few alternatives to Neosporin to maintain ear health and the cleanliness of your domes.
Before discussing the answer to the question above, it’s vital to understand what hearing aid domes and Neosporin are.
What Are Hearing Aid Domes?
Hearing aid domes are components often found at the end of hearing aid devices that direct the sound amplified by these devices. These small, soft, bell-shaped parts resemble earphones and transmit amplified environmental sounds to your eardrum (also known as tympanic membrane), enabling you to hear better.
The illustrations below show what hearing aid domes look like and how they fit snugly into the outer ear canal.
These domes require constant maintenance, whether they allow natural sound and air to enter the ear or seal off the ear canal. Without regular cleaning, materials such as dirt and earwax can accumulate within the domes.
Therefore, not keeping your hearing aid domes clean can cause discomfort or infection in the ear canal. Aside from that, too much dirt and earwax can also damage your hearing aid domes.
The need to keep hearing aid domes clean has prompted many to look for inexpensive substances with antibacterial properties. That’s why some use Neosporin as a cleansing agent.
But what makes Neosporin so special?
What Is Neosporin and What Is It Used For?
Neosporin is an ointment for preventing and healing minor skin infections due to small cuts, scrapes, or burns. The drug has also been effective in dealing with bacterial buildup and cuts in the nose.
Even though Neosporin has effectively suppressed the growth of bacteria in various types of skin surfaces, the ointment poses some risks when applied in hearing aid domes, as the next section will discuss.
Can I Use Neosporin in My Hearing Aid Domes?
“No” is the short answer to the question “Can I use Neosporin in my hearing aid domes?”
The long answer is you cannot use Neosporin to clean your hearing aid domes because it can:
- Cause ear infection
- Induce adverse bodily reactions
- Potentially lead to hearing loss
- Damage hearing aids
Let’s delve deeper into each adverse effect brought about by Neosporin.
Ear Infection
Neosporin becomes a magnet for pathogens when applied in confined spaces. If you put some Neosporin on your hearing aid domes and wear them, the ointment’s greasiness will combine with the snug fit of the domes to accumulate more dirt, bacteria, and earwax within the ear canal.
This buildup will lead to an increase in infection instead of bacterial elimination.
Adverse Bodily Reactions
Some people who are allergic to Neosporin develop symptoms that go beyond ear disorders. In severe cases, allergic reactions can cause trouble breathing or swallowing. Milder side effects may include itchiness, rashes, and hives.
Potential Hearing Loss
Neomycin, an ingredient of Neosporin, has harmed children’s health. According to a medical study, a sustained administration of neomycin eardrops in subjects below 18 years old has led to hearing loss.
Hearing Aid Damage
Neosporin can hinder the functioning of your hearing aid. The ointment leaves a sticky residue inside hearing aid domes. This deposit hinders the sound transmission of your hearing aid, preventing you from hearing clearly. Sticky Neospirin residue may also cause damage to the sensitive components of the hearing device.
Given the detrimental effects of Neosporin on your health and the functioning of your hearing aid, what can you use to clean your hearing aid domes and maintain ear health?
Alternatives to Using Neosporin for Hearing Aid Domes
Neosporin is not the only solution to maintaining the cleanliness of your hearing aid domes. And when maintaining dome hygiene is not enough to keep ear infections at bay, there are remedies available to make you more comfortable.
Cleaning Agents and Tools for Your Hearing Aid Domes
You can use the following substances and tools to clean your hearing aid domes. Before implementing these solutions, ensure that your domes are detached from your hearing aid. Otherwise, your device might get damaged.
● Cleaning brush with a wax loop. Before using the other two solutions, you may use this specific type of brush on your hearing aid domes. The wax loop can help remove hardened earwax and other deposits while the brush mops up the remaining impurities.
Hydrogen peroxide. For best results, don’t pour this chemical directly on your domes. Moisten a soft cloth with peroxide and wipe your hearing domes with it. Microfiber is a highly recommended cloth for this purpose because it is lint-free.
- Soapy water (mild soap solution). Place your detached hearing aid domes in warm and soapy water. Ensure the domes are completely dry before connecting them to your hearing aid.
Read More: How long do hearing aids last and how to make it last longer
Remedies for Infections Caused by Hearing Aid Domes
If you still suffer from ear canal infections despite your best efforts at keeping your hearing aid domes clean, you may resort to these treatments:
- Alternate use of heat and cold. Sometimes, the best remedy to ear infections is to let your immune system do the work. To make this natural healing process quicker and more comfortable, alternately apply cold and warm compress every half an hour. Heat can ease the flow of fluids in your ear canal while a cold compress can dull the pain.
- Apple cider vinegar (ACV). This popular health supplement can also relieve the symptoms of ear infections. Some studies even indicate that its acetic acid can inhibit the growth of bacteria. You can apply 5 to 10 drops of ACV into your ear canal to manage the infection.
- Ear drops. Ear drops like Ciprodex are designed to treat ear canal infections. For best results, you can ask your audiologist or physician what ear drops work best with your specific physio-medical condition (e.g. allergy considerations, reaction to your maintenance medicines, etc.).
Whatever dome cleaning agent or infection remedy you use, consult your audiologist or physician beforehand because they know which solutions best suit your unique needs and circumstances.
Conclusion
Anybody asking the question “Can I use Neosporin in my hearing aid domes?” will face the same definitive answer: No.
Though Neosporin can help fight infection in many cases, it can be harmful in the confined spaces of the ear canal, the part of your ear that comes in direct contact with your hearing aid domes. The ointment can also breed infection and cause other health problems.
Alternatives to Neosporin include chemical and mechanical tools like soapy water, hydrogen peroxide, and cleaning brushes with wax loops. Prescription- and home-based remedies are also available to treat or alleviate the symptoms of ear infections.
If you're faced with ear discomfort or irritation, it might be time to consider upgrading to a more comfortable and advanced hearing solution like Ceretone OTC hearing aids.
Designed with user comfort in mind, Ceretone hearing aids offer medical-grade materials that are less likely to cause irritation. The innovative design ensures a snug yet breathable fit, reducing the risk of moisture build-up and discomfort. Say goodbye to makeshift remedies and hello to a hearing aid that truly understands your needs.
Read More:
Ceretone Core One vs Eargo 7 Hearing Aids: Alternative, Reviews & Price
OTC Hearing Aids vs Prescription: Are OTC Hearing Aids as Good as Prescription?
FAQs
If you use Neosporin, you may hinder the optimal functioning of your hearing aid. The ointment can either distort the device’s sound quality or damage its sensitive electronic components.
You can clean your hearing aid domes with warm soapy water, hydrogen peroxide, or a cleaning brush with a wax loop. Whatever you use, make sure the domes are detached from the hearing aid. Disconnecting your domes from the device will ensure no liquid or solid particles could come in contact with its electronic components.
Though some dome brands last up to 6 months, it is advisable to replace your hearing aid domes after 2 to 3 months of use.
Open domes are ideal if you have mild to moderate hearing loss while closed domes are most suitable if you suffer from severe hearing disabilities.
Aside from reducing unwanted sounds from the outside, closed domes produce the occlusion effect, which is the experience of booming sounds similar to how your voice sounds louder when you stick your fingers into your ears.
If you have severe hearing impairment, the occlusion effect will not be as uncomfortable because you can hear better due to greater sound amplification. Since closed domes foster the occlusion effect, they are your ideal choice if you have serious hearing loss.
However, closed domes will not be optimal if you have mild to moderate hearing loss because you will not need as much sound amplification or volume increase. If you do not have severe hearing problems, the occlusion effect can bring more discomfort than improved hearing. Hence, in this situation, you should use open domes.
Avoid using alcohol wipes when cleaning hearing aid domes. Hearing aids contain coatings that are sensitive to alcohol. For best results, use cleaning agents like warm soapy water or hydrogen peroxide. You can also use tools like a cleaning brush with a wax loop.
Whatever you do, remember that no liquid substance or foreign agent like dirt or earwax should come in contact with your hearing aid’s electronic components (usually inside a structure called the “case”).
Hearing aid domes are more easily replaceable and work best with people who suffer from mild hearing loss. On the other hand, hearing aid molds are ideal for patients with severe or profound hearing disabilities.
Molds are custom-built for their users. Hence, it takes more time and effort to replace them. Domes, on the other hand, are readily available in many physical and online stores.
However, molds are more effective than domes at sealing the ear. Patients with severe to profound hearing loss require more amplified sound to hear better. Since molds are much better than domes at keeping the processed sound in the ear, hearing aid molds are ideal for people with serious hearing disabilities.
