It may seem as though the causes of noise-related hearing loss are functionally well-recognized. After all, the name itself indicates a fairly direct cause-and-effect relationship. Our basic 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 perfectly understood the underlying mechanisms behind it. That’s improving, thanks to emerging research into the role of zinc management after exposure to loud sounds. Hearing loss and zinc management have a significant connection according to this research.
How is hearing impairment impacted by zinc?
Zinc is a common mineral. The majority of people have plenty of zinc in their bodies, performing specific and essential functions. Zinc helps your brain interpret chemical signals and is connected to immune system functions. With a few exceptions, most people receive plenty of zinc from their food every day.
At first glance, it may be difficult to determine the association between hearing loss and zinc. The relationship between zinc and hearing isn’t, after all, immediately obvious. A new experiment has begun to reveal what’s going on, however.
Researchers engaged in some analysis on mice that were exposed to loud sound. When exposed to loud noises, the same thing happens to mice as happens to humans: the delicate parts of the ear become damaged. In humans, this might first be encountered as a temporary muffling of sound. As a person is continually exposed to loud noise, this damage will become more extreme and lasting. 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?
Because of this result, scientists now better understand how noise-induced hearing loss symptoms happen. Usually, when zinc is in the body, it’s bound molecularly. During the experiment, researchers observed that zinc became free-floating after the ears were exposed to loud noises and sound-related stresses. Zinc most likely responds the same way in humans.
The free-floating zinc causes damage to fragile parts of the inner ear that are crucial in order to hear clearly. Scientists are now thinking that this is one of the mechanisms that causes hearing damage due to noise exposure.
How to manage hearing loss
In the future, this kind of understanding might help scientists prevent noise-induced hearing loss from ever occurring, even in those people who are often exposed to loud noises. Unfortunately, these developments are likely still some ways off. But that doesn’t mean your ears can’t be protected.
So, you might be wondering: how can I prevent noise-related hearing loss?
Here are a few steps you can take to safeguard your hearing:
- Use hearing protection: If there are noisy environments you want to be in, or merely can’t avoid, ear plugs and ear muffs can help minimize the damage. A set of earplugs can, for example, allow you to go to that loud concert and still be capable of hearing the music but also offer some protection against irreversible hearing loss.
- Limit your exposure to loud noises: Sporting events, concerts, and jet engines fall into this category. But most individuals would also be surprised to learn that everyday noises like chatty offices, traffic, or leaf blowers can also cause hearing damage.
- Routinely check in with your hearing specialist: Detecting damage as early as possible can help minimize long-term damage, and coming in to see us for a routine hearing test is the best way to do that.
Understand the causes, protect your ears
Can noise-induced hearing loss be cured? Sadly no. Even though you can effectively treat this type of hearing loss and any related tinnitus, it has no cure. Better understanding the causes of hearing loss and the mechanisms by which hearing loss functions can help hearing specialists (and you) develop better strategies and treatments designed to keep your hearing safe.
Although this research is promising, we still have a ways to go. But every bit helps. Your direct role is to get your hearing evaluated and use hearing protection.
