It may seem as though the roots of noise-induced hearing loss are functionally well-established. After all, the name itself indicates a fairly direct 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 behind that cause have not always been so well understood. That’s changing, thanks to new research into the role of zinc management after exposure to loud sounds. Hearing loss and zinc management have an important link according to this research.
How is hearing impairment impacted by zinc?
Zinc is a common mineral. Most people have an abundance of zinc in their bodies, performing distinct and necessary functions. 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 link between zinc and hearing loss might, 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 expose 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. This will become more acute and more permanent as chronic noise exposure continues. In both mice and humans, the body is not able to heal or repair this damage.
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 better understanding of how the symptoms of noise-related hearing loss happen because of these results. Usually, zinc in the body is molecularly bound. During the experiment, researchers noticed that zinc became free-floating after the ears were subjected to loud noises and sound-related stresses. It’s likely the same thing occurs in humans.
The free-floating zinc triggers damage to fragile portions of the inner ear that are crucial in order to hear clearly. This is the mechanism that scientists now think leads to the type of damage that causes noise-related hearing loss.
How to manage hearing loss
Over time, this sort of understanding may help scientists stop noise-related hearing loss from ever occurring, even in those people who are often exposed to loud noises. Regrettably, 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?
Here are a few steps you can take to safeguard your hearing:
- Limit your exposure to loud sounds: This obviously includes noises like jet engines, concerts, or sporting events. But most people would also be surprised to discover that everyday noises like chatty workplaces, traffic, or leaf blowers can also lead to hearing damage.
- Regularly check in with your hearing specialist: Getting a hearing screening (and regularly checking in with us) can help detect damage early.
- Use ear protection: If there are noisy settings 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, use a set of ear plugs to ensure you can still hear, but that your ears don’t become irreversibly damaged as a result.
Understand the causes, safeguard your ears
Can noise-induced hearing loss be reversed? Unfortunately not. This type of hearing loss and tinnitus cannot be cured, though it can be managed quite 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 undertaking. But every bit helps. On an individual level, it’s essential to take measures to protect your hearing and check in with your hearing specialist.