It may seem as though the causes of noise-induced hearing loss are functionally well-recognized. After all, the name itself conveys a fairly straightforward cause-and-effect relationship. Our basic understanding is that permanent hearing damage is a result of exposure to overly loud sound over a long period of time.
And while that’s accurate, the mechanisms behind that cause have not always been so well established. That’s changing, thanks to emerging research into the role of zinc management after exposure to loud noises. This research suggests that there’s a significant link between zinc and hearing loss.
What is zinc? And how does it impact hearing impairment?
Zinc is a mineral required for carrying out necessary bodily functions and most people have plenty of it. Zinc helps your brain translate chemical signals and is linked to immune system functions. With a few exceptions, most people get enough zinc from their daily food intake.
The link between zinc and hearing loss might, at first sight, be difficult to recognize. The link between zinc and hearing isn’t, after all, instantly apparent. A new experiment has begun to expose what’s going on, however.
Researchers exposed mice to loud noises and carried out a few analyses afterward. In mice, as with humans, the fragile mechanisms of the ear become damaged when exposed to loud noise. In humans, this might first be experienced as a temporary muffling of sound. As a person is regularly exposed to loud sound, this damage will become more extreme and lasting. This damage can’t be cured in either humans or mice.
Researchers also took blood samples from the mice and observed some interesting results in terms of free-floating zinc.
Does zinc help or cause hearing loss?
Scientists now have a greater understanding of how the symptoms of noise-induced hearing loss occur because of this research. Usually, when zinc is in the body, it’s bound molecularly. During the experiment, researchers observed that zinc became free-floating when the ears were exposed to loud noises and sound-related stresses. It’s likely the same thing occurs in humans.
This zinc de-regulation winds up causing cellular damage to the inner ear, especially to the parts of the inner ear responsible for clear hearing. This is the mechanism that scientists now believe results in the kind of damage that causes noise-related hearing loss.
How to manage hearing loss
As scientists reach a deeper understanding of this, they might be able to formulate novel methods to prevent hearing loss in people who are frequently exposed to loud noise. However, it might be some time before those developments become a viable reality. But there are still other ways to protect your ears.
So, how can you safeguard yourself from noise-induced hearing loss? There are a number of approaches you may utilize to safeguard your ears:
- Routinely 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 regular hearing test is the best way to do that.
- Regulate your exposure to loud noises: This obviously includes noises such as jet engines, concerts, or sporting events. But many people would also be surprised to discover that everyday noises like chatty offices, traffic, or leaf blowers can also cause hearing damage.
- Use ear protection: If there are loud settings you want to be in, or merely can’t stay away from, ear plugs and ear muffs can help lessen the damage. If you attend that concert, for example, wear a pair of ear plugs to ensure you can still hear, but that your ears don’t become permanently damaged as a result.
Protect your ears by understanding causes
Can you cure noise-related hearing loss? Sadly no. This type of hearing loss and tinnitus cannot be cured, though it can be managed quite successfully. Better understanding the causes of hearing loss and the mechanisms by which hearing loss works can help hearing specialists (and you) formulate better strategies and treatments designed to keep your hearing safe.
Although this research is promising, we still have a ways to go. But we seem to be getting closer to understanding. On a personal level, it’s important to take measures to protect your hearing and check in with your hearing specialist.
