The underlying foundation of noise-related hearing loss might seem well-understood. A fairly obvious cause-and-effect connection is indicated by the name, after all. The common understanding is simply that loud sounds damage the hearing mechanisms in the ear, resulting in long-term and permanent hearing loss.
Though we’ve recognized this for some time now, we haven’t perfectly understood the inherent mechanisms behind it. But because of new research, we’re gaining a deeper understanding of noise-induced hearing loss, including the role of zinc intake after being exposed to loud noises. This research reveals that there’s a significant connection between zinc and hearing loss.
What is zinc? And how does it impact hearing impairment?
Zinc is a commonplace mineral. Most individuals have an abundance of zinc in their bodies, performing distinct and necessary functions. Zinc helps your brain translate chemical signals and is connected to immune system functions. With a few exceptions, the vast majority of individuals get plenty of zinc from their daily food intake.
At first, it might be difficult to determine the connection between hearing loss and zinc. The relationship between zinc and hearing isn’t, after all, immediately obvious. A new experiment has started to reveal what’s going on, however.
Researchers exposed mice to loud noises and carried out a few analyses afterward. When exposed to loud sounds, the same thing happens to mice as happens to humans: the fragile parts of the ear become damaged. In humans, this may first be experienced as a temporary muffling of sound. As a person is continually exposed to loud noise, this damage will become more extreme and lasting. In both mice and humans, the body is not capable of healing or repairing 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?
Scientists now have a greater understanding of how the symptoms of noise-related hearing loss happen because of these results. Usually, when zinc is in the body, it’s bound molecularly. Researchers discovered zinc in free-floating form when the experiment’s mice were subjected to loud noise. Zinc most likely responds 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 type of damage that causes noise-induced hearing loss.
Treating hearing loss
As scientists gain a greater understanding of this, they might be able to formulate novel ways to prevent hearing loss in people who are regularly exposed to loud noise. However, it may be some time before those developments become a viable reality. But there are still other ways to protect your ears.
So, you might be asking: how can I prevent noise-induced hearing loss?
Here are several measures you can take to protect your hearing:
- 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. 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.
- Consistently 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.
- Limit your exposure to loud noises: This clearly includes noises such as jet engines, concerts, or sporting events. But many people would also be surprised to discover that everyday noises like chatty workplaces, traffic, or leaf blowers can also lead to hearing damage.
Protect your ears by understanding causes
Can you reverse noise-related hearing loss? Unfortunately not. 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 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 we seem to be getting closer to understanding. Your immediate role is to get your hearing evaluated and use hearing protection.