The underlying basis of noise-induced hearing loss might seem well-understood. A fairly clear-cut cause-and-effect relationship is indicated by the name, after all. The common understanding is simply that loud noises damage the hearing mechanisms in the ear, leading to long-term and irreversible hearing loss.
And while that’s accurate, the mechanisms underpinning that cause haven’t always been so well understood. That’s improving, thanks to new research into the role of zinc regulation after exposure to loud sounds. Hearing loss and zinc management have an important link according to this research.
What is zinc? And how does it affect hearing impairment?
Zinc is a commonplace mineral. Most individuals have plenty of zinc in their bodies, carrying out specific and essential functions. Zinc helps your brain translate chemical signals and is connected to immune system functions. In most instances, a person’s diet supplies enough zinc.
At first, it may be difficult to determine the relationship between hearing loss and zinc. The link between zinc and hearing isn’t, after all, instantly apparent. A new experiment has started to expose what’s going on, however.
Researchers exposed mice to loud noises and performed a few analyses afterward. In mice, as with humans, the fragile mechanisms of the ear become damaged when exposed to loud sound. For humans, sound will initially become temporarily muffled. This will become more serious and more permanent as persistent noise exposure continues. In both mice and humans, the body is not able to heal or repair this damage.
Researchers also took blood samples from the mice and noticed some fascinating results in terms of free-floating zinc.
Is hearing loss caused or helped by zinc?
Scientists now have a better understanding of how the symptoms of noise-induced hearing loss occur because of these results. Typically, zinc in the body is molecularly bound. During the experiment, researchers observed that zinc became free-floating after the ears were exposed to loud noises and sound-induced stresses. It’s likely the same thing occurs in humans.
The free-floating zinc triggers damage to delicate portions of the inner ear that are essential in order to hear clearly. Scientists are now thinking that this is one of the mechanisms that causes hearing damage related to noise exposure.
How to manage hearing loss
As scientists gain a greater understanding of this, they might be able to develop novel ways to prevent hearing loss in people who are frequently subjected to loud noise. However, it might be some time before those advancements become a viable reality. But there are still other ways to safeguard your ears.
So, how can you safeguard yourself from noise-induced hearing loss?
There are a number of strategies you can employ to protect your ears:
- 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.
- Wear hearing protection: Ear muffs and ear plugs can help your ears deal with noisy settings that you can’t, or don’t want to stay away from. If you go to that concert, for example, use a set of ear plugs to ensure you can still hear, but that your ears don’t become permanently damaged as a consequence.
- Limit your exposure to loud sounds: This clearly includes noises such as jet engines, concerts, or sporting events. But there are some more commonplace noises that can cause hearing loss that may be surprising, including things like a leaf blower, traffic, or people speaking loudly in a bustling office.
Understand the causes, protect your ears
Can you cure noise-induced hearing loss? Unfortunately not. Though you can successfully manage this form of hearing loss and any related tinnitus, it can’t be cured. Better understanding the causes of hearing loss and the mechanisms by which hearing loss functions can help hearing specialists (and you) develop better techniques and treatments tailored to keep your hearing safe.
Even though this research is encouraging, we still have a ways to go. But every bit helps. Your immediate role is to get your hearing tested and use ear protection.
