It may seem as if the causes of noise-induced hearing loss are functionally well-understood. A fairly obvious cause-and-effect relationship is indicated by the name, after all. The common understanding is simply that loud noises damage the hearing mechanisms in the ear, resulting in long-term and irreversible hearing loss.
Though we’ve known this for some time now, we haven’t completely understood the underlying mechanisms behind it. That’s improving, thanks to new research into the role of zinc management after exposure to loud noises. Hearing loss and zinc management have a significant link according to this research.
What is zinc? And how does it impact hearing impairment?
Zinc is a mineral needed for executing necessary bodily functions and the majority of individuals have an abundance of it. Zinc helps your brain interpret chemical signals and is linked to immune system functions. In most instances, a person’s diet provides plenty of zinc.
At first, it may be challenging to see the relationship between hearing loss and zinc. The link between zinc and hearing isn’t, after all, immediately obvious. A new experiment has begun to reveal what’s going on, however.
Researchers exposed mice to loud sounds and performed a few analyses afterward. In mice, as with humans, the fragile mechanisms of the ear become damaged when exposed to loud noise. For humans, sound will initially become temporarily muffled. This will become more serious and more permanent as persistent noise exposure continues. This damage can’t be healed in either humans or mice.
Researchers also took blood samples from the mice and observed some fascinating results in terms of free-floating zinc.
Does zinc help or cause hearing loss?
Because of this result, scientists now better understand how noise-related hearing loss symptoms occur. Usually, zinc in the body is molecularly bound. During the experiment, researchers noticed that zinc became free-floating after the ears were subjected to loud noises and sound-induced stresses. It’s likely the same thing occurs in humans.
This zinc de-regulation ends up doing cellular damage to the inner ear, particularly to the parts of the inner ear in control of clear hearing. This is the mechanism that scientists now think leads to the kind of damage that causes noise-related hearing loss.
How to manage hearing loss
As scientists reach a greater understanding of this, they might be able to formulate novel approaches to prevent hearing loss in people who are regularly subjected to loud noise. However, it may be some time before those advancements become a viable reality. But that doesn’t mean your ears are defenseless.
So, how can you safeguard yourself from noise-related hearing loss?
Here are several steps you can take to safeguard your hearing:
- Regulate your exposure to loud sounds: This obviously includes noises like jet engines, concerts, or sporting events. But there are some more commonplace noises that can cause hearing loss that may be surprising, and that includes things like a leaf blower, traffic, or individuals speaking loudly in a bustling office.
- Consistently check in with your hearing specialist: Detecting damage as early as possible can help reduce long-term damage, and coming in to see us for a regular hearing test is the best way to do that.
- Use ear protection: Ear muffs and ear plugs can help your ears cope with noisy settings that you can’t, or don’t want to avoid. If you go to that concert, for example, wear a set of ear plugs to ensure you can still hear, but that your ears don’t become permanently damaged as a result.
Understand the causes, safeguard your ears
Can noise-related hearing loss be cured? Sadly no. Although you can effectively treat this form of hearing loss and any associated tinnitus, it can’t be cured. Strategies developed to keep your hearing safe will be more effective the better you understand the mechanisms behind hearing loss.
Even though this research is promising, we still have a ways to go. But we seem to be getting closer to understanding. On an individual level, it’s important to take measures to safeguard your hearing and check in with your hearing specialist.