The underlying basis of noise-induced hearing loss might seem well-understood. A fairly obvious cause-and-effect connection is suggested by the name, after all. Our fundamental understanding is that permanent hearing damage is a result of exposure to overly loud noise over a long period of time.
Though we’ve known this for some time now, we haven’t completely understood the inherent mechanisms behind it. But because of new research, we’re developing a deeper understanding of noise-related hearing loss, including the role of zinc intake after being exposed to loud noises. Hearing loss and zinc management have an important link according to this research.
What is zinc? And how does it affect hearing loss?
Zinc is a commonplace mineral. The majority of people have an abundance of zinc in their bodies, carrying out specific and essential functions. Zinc helps your brain translate chemical signals and is linked to immune system functions. With a few exceptions, the vast majority of individuals get enough zinc from their food every day.
At first glance, it might be challenging to determine the relationship between hearing loss and zinc. After all, it’s not instantly clear what role zinc plays in your hearing. A new experiment has started to expose what’s going on, however.
Researchers exposed mice to loud sounds and performed a few analyses afterward. In mice, as with humans, the fragile mechanisms of the ear become damaged when exposed to loud noise. For humans, sound will initially become temporarily muffled. This will become more serious and more permanent as chronic noise exposure continues. In both mice and humans, the body isn’t capable of healing or repairing this damage.
Researchers also took blood samples from the mice and observed some fascinating 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. Normally, when zinc is in the body, it’s bound molecularly. Researchers discovered zinc in free-floating form after the experiment’s mice were subjected to loud noise. Zinc most likely reacts 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. 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 better understanding of this, they may be able to develop novel ways to prevent hearing loss in individuals who are frequently exposed to loud noise. However, it may be some time before those developments become a viable reality. But that doesn’t mean your ears can’t be protected.
So, how can you safeguard yourself from noise-induced hearing loss?
Here are a few measures you can take to safeguard your hearing:
- 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 regular hearing test is the best way to do that.
- Regulate your exposure to loud noises: This clearly includes noises like jet engines, concerts, or sporting events. But many individuals would also be surprised to discover that everyday sounds like chatty offices, traffic, or leaf blowers can also lead to hearing damage.
- Use hearing protection: If there are loud environments you want to be in, or merely can’t avoid, ear plugs and ear muffs can help decrease the damage. If you go to that concert, for instance, use a pair of ear plugs to ensure you can still hear, but that your ears don’t become irreversibly damaged as a consequence.
Understand the causes, protect your ears
Can noise-induced hearing loss be cured? Regrettably not. Although you can successfully manage this type of hearing loss and any associated tinnitus, it can’t be cured. Better understanding the causes of hearing loss and the mechanisms by which hearing loss works can help hearing specialists (and you) develop better strategies and treatments designed to keep your hearing safe.
Although this research is promising, we still have a ways to go. But every bit helps. Your immediate role is to get your hearing evaluated and use hearing protection.
