It may seem as if the roots of noise-related hearing loss are functionally well-understood. A fairly obvious cause-and-effect relationship is suggested by the name, after all. Our basic understanding is that irreversible hearing damage is a result of exposure to overly loud sound over a long period of time.
Though we’ve recognized this for some time now, we haven’t completely understood the inherent mechanisms behind it. That’s changing, thanks to new research into the role of zinc management after exposure to loud sounds. This research suggests that there’s an important connection between zinc and hearing loss.
How is hearing impairment affected by zinc?
Zinc is a mineral needed for executing necessary bodily functions and most individuals have plenty of it. Zinc helps your brain interpret chemical signals and is connected to immune system functions. In most cases, a person’s diet provides plenty of zinc.
The link between zinc and hearing loss may, at first glance, be difficult to identify. The link between zinc and hearing isn’t, after all, instantly obvious. A new experiment has begun to reveal what’s going on, however.
Researchers did some analysis on mice that were exposed to loud noise. When exposed to loud noises, the same thing happens to mice as happens to humans: the sensitive parts of the ear become damaged. For humans, sound will initially become impermanently muffled. As an individual is regularly exposed to loud noise, this damage will become more severe 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 observed some fascinating results in terms of free-floating zinc.
Is hearing loss caused or helped by zinc?
Because of this result, scientists now have a better understanding of how noise-induced hearing loss symptoms happen. Usually, 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. 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 produces hearing damage due to noise exposure.
Managing hearing loss
In the future, this type of understanding might help scientists stop noise-induced hearing loss from ever happening, even in those individuals who are often exposed to loud noises. Regrettably, these advancements are likely still some ways off. 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 strategies you can employ to safeguard your ears:
- Wear hearing protection: If there are loud environments you want to be in, or merely can’t avoid, ear plugs and ear muffs can help lessen the damage. If you attend that concert, for instance, wear a set of ear plugs to ensure you can still hear, but that your ears don’t become irreversibly damaged as a consequence.
- Regularly check in with your hearing specialist: Getting a hearing test (and routinely checking in with us) can help detect damage early.
- Regulate your exposure to loud noises: This obviously includes noises like 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 individuals talking loudly in a bustling office.
Protect your ears by understanding causes
Can noise-induced hearing loss be cured? Regrettably not. This kind of hearing loss and tinnitus cannot be cured, though it can be managed very successfully. Strategies developed to keep your hearing safe will be more successful the better you understand the mechanisms behind hearing loss.
This research is probably just the first step in a longer process. But every bit helps. Your direct role is to get your hearing checked and use hearing protection.