It might seem as if the roots of noise-induced hearing loss are functionally well-established. After all, the name itself suggests a fairly straightforward 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 underpinning that cause have not always been so well understood. That’s improving, thanks to new research into the role of zinc management after exposure to loud noises. This research reveals that there’s an important connection between zinc and hearing loss.
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 translate chemical signals and is linked to immune system functions. In most cases, a person’s diet provides plenty of zinc.
The connection between zinc and hearing loss may, at first glance, be difficult to recognize. The connection 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 conducted a few analyses afterward. In mice, as with humans, the sensitive mechanisms of the ear become damaged when exposed to loud noise. For humans, sound will initially become temporarily muffled. As an individual is continually exposed to loud noise, this damage will become more serious and lasting. In both mice and humans, the body isn’t able to heal or repair this damage.
Researchers also took blood samples from the mice and noticed some interesting results in terms of free-floating zinc.
Is hearing loss caused or helped by zinc?
Because of this research, scientists now better understand how noise-related hearing loss symptoms occur. 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 subjected to loud noises and sound-related stresses. Zinc most likely behaves the same way in humans.
This zinc de-regulation ends up doing cellular damage to the inner ear, particularly to the parts of the inner ear in control of clear hearing. This is the mechanism that scientists now believe results in the kind of damage that causes noise-related hearing loss.
How to treat hearing loss
Over time, this sort of understanding may help scientists prevent noise-related hearing loss from ever happening, even in those individuals who are often exposed to loud noises. Unfortunately, these developments are likely still some ways off. But there are still other ways to protect your ears.
So, how can you safeguard yourself from noise-related hearing loss?
There are several strategies you may use to protect your ears:
- Regularly check in with your hearing specialist: Discovering damage as early as possible can help reduce long-term damage, and coming in to see us for a regular hearing test is the best way to do that.
- Use hearing protection: Ear muffs and ear plugs can help your ears deal with noisy environments that you can’t, or don’t want to avoid. If you go to 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 consequence.
- Limit your exposure to loud noises: Sporting events, concerts, and jet engines fall into this category. But there are some more commonplace noises that can cause hearing loss that may be surprising, including things like a leaf blower, traffic, or individuals talking loudly in a bustling office.
Understand the causes, safeguard your ears
Can noise-related hearing loss be reversed? Sadly no. Though you can successfully treat this type of hearing loss and any associated 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) formulate better strategies and treatments tailored to keep your hearing safe.
This research is likely just the first step in a longer process. But every bit helps. On a personal level, it’s important to take steps to protect your hearing and check in with your hearing specialist.