It may seem as though the causes of noise-related hearing loss are functionally well-established. A fairly clear-cut cause-and-effect connection is indicated by the name, after all. Our fundamental understanding is that irreversible hearing damage is a result of exposure to overly loud noise over a long period of time.
Though we’ve known this for some time now, we haven’t completely understood the underlying mechanisms behind it. That’s improving, thanks to emerging research into the role of zinc regulation after exposure 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 loss?
Zinc is a mineral needed for executing necessary bodily functions and the majority of individuals have plenty of it. Zinc helps your brain interpret chemical signals and is linked to immune system functions. With a few exceptions, most people get enough zinc from their food every day.
The link between zinc and hearing loss may, at first glance, be difficult to identify. After all, it’s not immediately clear what role zinc plays in your hearing. A new experiment has started to expose what’s going on, however.
Researchers performed some analysis on mice that were exposed to loud sound. When exposed to loud sounds, the same thing happens to mice as happens to humans: the fragile parts of the ear are damaged. In humans, this might first be experienced as a temporary muffling of sound. As a person is continually exposed to loud noise, this damage will become more serious and lasting. This damage can’t be cured in either humans or mice.
After taking some blood samples from the mice, some intriguing results in terms of free-floating zinc were revealed.
Does zinc help or cause hearing loss?
Because of this result, scientists now have a better understanding of how noise-related hearing loss symptoms occur. Normally, when zinc is in the body, it’s bound molecularly. Researchers detected zinc in free-floating form after the experiment’s mice were subjected to loud noise. It’s likely the same thing happens in humans.
The free-floating zinc triggers damage to sensitive portions of the inner ear that are crucial in order to hear clearly. This is the mechanism that scientists now think leads to the kind of damage that causes noise-related hearing loss.
Managing hearing loss
As scientists gain a greater understanding of this, they might be able to formulate novel ways to prevent hearing loss in people who are regularly subjected to loud noise. Regrettably, these developments are likely still some ways off. But there are still other ways to safeguard your ears.
So, how can you protect yourself from noise-induced hearing loss?
Here are several steps you can take to safeguard your hearing:
- Limit your exposure to loud sounds: Sporting events, concerts, and jet engines fall into this category. But there are some more commonplace noises that can cause hearing loss that might be surprising, and that includes things like a leaf blower, traffic, or people talking loudly in a bustling office.
- Regularly check in with your hearing specialist: Detecting 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 hearing protection: Ear muffs and ear plugs can help your ears cope with loud settings that you can’t, or don’t want to stay away from. A pair of earplugs can, for instance, allow you to attend that loud concert and still be capable of hearing the music but also offer some protection against permanent hearing loss.
Understand the causes, safeguard your ears
Can you cure noise-induced hearing loss? Unfortunately not. Although you can successfully treat this type 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.
This research is probably just the first step in a longer undertaking. But we appear to be getting closer to understanding. On an individual level, it’s essential to take steps to protect your hearing and check in with your hearing specialist.