It might seem as though the causes of noise-induced hearing loss are functionally well-established. After all, the name itself indicates a fairly straightforward cause-and-effect relationship. Our fundamental understanding is that irreversible hearing damage is a result of exposure to overly loud sound over a long period of time.
And while that’s relevant, the mechanisms behind that cause have not always been so well understood. But because of recent research, we’re developing a greater understanding of noise-related hearing loss, including the role of zinc intake after being exposed to loud sounds. Hearing loss and zinc management have a significant connection according to this research.
What is zinc? And how does it impact hearing impairment?
Zinc is a common mineral. The majority of individuals have an abundance of zinc in their bodies, carrying out specific and essential functions. Zinc helps your brain interpret chemical signals and is linked to immune system functions. In most instances, a person’s diet supplies enough zinc.
At first, it might be challenging to see the relationship between hearing loss and zinc. The link between zinc and hearing isn’t, after all, instantly apparent. However, a novel experiment has shed some light on what’s going on.
Researchers exposed mice to loud sounds and carried out a few analyses afterward. In mice, as with humans, the sensitive mechanisms of the ear become damaged when exposed to loud sound. For humans, sound will initially become temporarily muffled. This will become more acute and more permanent as chronic noise exposure continues. This damage can’t be healed in either humans or mice.
After taking some blood samples from the mice, some fascinating results in terms of free-floating zinc were discovered.
Is hearing loss caused or helped by zinc?
Scientists now have a greater understanding of how the symptoms of noise-induced hearing loss happen because of this research. Usually, when zinc is in the body, it’s bound molecularly. Researchers detected zinc in free-floating form after the experiment’s mice were exposed to loud noise. It’s likely the same thing happens in humans.
This zinc de-regulation ends up doing cellular damage to the inner ear, especially to the parts of the inner ear in control of clear hearing. This is the mechanism that scientists now believe results in the kind of damage that causes noise-related hearing loss.
Treating hearing loss
Over time, this sort of understanding may help scientists prevent noise-induced hearing loss from ever occurring, even in those people who are frequently subjected to loud noises. However, it might be some time before those developments become a viable reality. But there are still other ways to safeguard your ears.
So, you may be wondering: how can I prevent noise-related hearing loss?
Here are several steps you can take to safeguard your hearing:
- Regularly check in with your hearing specialist: Discovering damage as early as possible can help decrease long-term damage, and coming in to see us for a routine hearing test is the best way to do that.
- Use ear protection: If there are loud environments you want to be in, or simply can’t stay away from, ear plugs and ear muffs can help lessen the damage. A pair of earplugs can, for example, allow you to attend that loud concert and still be able to hear the music but also offer some protection against permanent hearing loss.
- Limit your exposure to loud noises: Sporting events, concerts, and jet engines come under this category. 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 people talking loudly in a bustling office.
Understand the causes, protect your ears
Can noise-related hearing loss be reversed? Sadly no. Although you can effectively treat this form of hearing loss and any related tinnitus, it can’t be cured. Strategies developed to keep your hearing safe will be more successful the better you understand the mechanisms behind hearing loss.
Although this research is encouraging, we still have a ways to go. But we seem to be getting closer to understanding. Your direct role is to get your hearing evaluated and use hearing protection.