The underlying basis of noise-induced hearing loss may seem well-founded. After all, the name itself conveys a fairly direct cause-and-effect relationship. The common understanding is simply that loud sounds damage the hearing mechanisms in the ear, leading to long-term and irreversible hearing loss.
And while that’s accurate, the mechanisms behind that cause have not always been so well understood. That’s improving, thanks to emerging research into the role of zinc management after exposure to loud sounds. Hearing loss and zinc regulation have an important connection according to this research.
How is hearing impairment impacted by zinc?
Zinc is a mineral needed for carrying out necessary bodily functions and most people 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 enough zinc.
At first, it might be difficult to see the relationship between hearing loss and zinc. The connection between zinc and hearing isn’t, after all, immediately obvious. A new experiment has begun to expose what’s going on, however.
Researchers exposed mice to loud sounds and performed a few analyses afterward. When exposed to loud noises, the same thing happens to mice as happens to humans: the fragile parts of the ear are damaged. In humans, this may first be encountered as a temporary muffling of sound. This will become more acute and more permanent as chronic noise exposure continues. In both mice and humans, the body isn’t capable of healing or repairing this damage.
After taking some blood samples from the mice, some fascinating results in terms of free-floating zinc were discovered.
Does zinc help or cause hearing loss?
Because of this research, scientists now have a better understanding of how noise-induced hearing loss symptoms happen. Typically, zinc in the body is molecularly bound. During the experiment, researchers noticed that zinc became free-floating when the ears were exposed to loud noises and sound-induced stresses. It’s likely the same thing happens in humans.
The free-floating zinc causes damage to sensitive parts of the inner ear that are crucial in order to hear clearly. This is the mechanism that scientists now think leads to the type of damage that causes noise-related hearing loss.
Managing hearing loss
In the future, this type of understanding could help scientists stop noise-related hearing loss from ever happening, even in those people who are often subjected to loud noises. Regrettably, these developments are likely still some ways off. But there are still other ways to protect your ears.
So, you might be wondering: how can I prevent noise-related hearing loss?
Here are a few measures you can take to safeguard your hearing:
- Use hearing protection: If there are noisy settings you want to be in, or merely can’t avoid, ear plugs and ear muffs can help lessen the damage. A pair of earplugs can, for instance, allow you to go to that loud concert and still be capable of hearing the music but also provide some protection against permanent hearing loss.
- Regulate your exposure to loud noises: This clearly includes noises like jet engines, concerts, or sporting events. But many people would also be surprised to discover that everyday sounds like chatty workplaces, traffic, or lawnmowers can also lead to hearing damage.
- Routinely check in with your hearing specialist: Discovering damage as early as possible can help minimize long-term damage, and coming in to see us for a regular hearing test is the best way to do that.
Safeguard your ears by understanding causes
Can noise-induced hearing loss be reversed? Sadly no. This type of hearing loss and tinnitus can’t be cured, though it can be managed very effectively. 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 encouraging, we still have a ways to go. But we appear to be getting closer to understanding. On an individual level, it’s important to take measures to protect your hearing and check in with your hearing specialist.