The human body is a wonderful, breathtaking, perplexing, confounding construction, isn’t it? Scrapes, cuts, and broken bones are typically no problem for the human body to repair (with a little time, your body can restore the giant bones in your arms and legs).
But when it comes to mending the tiny little hairs in your ear, you’re out of luck. For now at least.
It’s really regrettable that your body can pull off such fantastic feats of healing but can’t restore these tiny hairs. What’s happening there?
When is Hearing Impairment Permanent?
So, let’s get right to it. You’re at your doctor’s office trying to digest the news he’s giving you: you’re losing your hearing. So the first question you ask is whether the hearing will ever come back. And the answer is… maybe.
Dramatically speaking, it’s a little anticlimactic.
But he isn’t wrong. There are two basic kinds of hearing loss:
- Hearing loss caused by damage: But hearing loss has another more prevalent form. This form of hearing loss, called sensorineural hearing loss, is irreversible. Here’s what happens: there are tiny hairs in your ear that vibrate when struck by moving air (sound waves). When vibrations are transformed into signals, they are transmitted to the brain which makes them into the sounds you perceive. But loud noises can cause damage to the hairs and, over time, diminish your hearing to the point where you need treatment.
- Hearing loss caused by a blockage: When there’s something obstructing your ear canal, you can exhibit all the symptoms of hearing loss. This blockage can be caused by a wide variety of things, from the gross (ear wax) to the downright scary (tumors). Fortunately, once the obstruction is removed, your hearing often returns to normal.
So here’s the main point: there’s one form of hearing loss you can recuperate from, and you might need to get tested to see which one you have.
Hearing Loss Treatment
Scientists haven’t found a “cure” for sensorineural hearing loss but they’re working on it. But that doesn’t mean you can’t get treatment for your hearing loss. Here are a few ways that the proper treatment may help you:
- Protect and maintain your remaining hearing.
- Counter mental decline.
- Remain engaged socially, keeping isolation away.
- Ensure your total quality of life is unaffected or remains high.
- Cope successfully with any of the symptoms of hearing loss you might be enduring.
Of the many types of treatment available, which one is the right choice for you depends on the extent of your hearing loss. Hearing aids are one of the easiest and most common treatment options.
Why is Hearing Loss Successfully Treated With Hearing AIds?
You can return to the things and people you love with the help of hearing aids. They can help you hear the discussions, the phone, your television, or even just the sounds of nature. You will no longer be straining to hear so pressure will be removed from your brain.
The Best Protection is Prevention
Loud noises and other things that would damage your hearing should be avoided and your ears should be safeguarded against them. Your overall health and well being depend on strong hearing. Having routine hearing exams is the best way to be sure that you are safeguarding your hearing.