The human body has some amazing and remarkable abilities. Scrapes, cuts, and broken bones are generally no problem for the human body to repair (with a bit of time, your body can repair the huge bones in your legs and arms).
But when it comes to repairing the delicate little hairs in your ear, it’s not going to happen. For now at least.
It’s truly regrettable that your body can pull off such great feats of healing but can’t ever re-grow these tiny hairs. So what’s the deal?
When is Hearing Impairment Permanent?
So, let’s get right to it. You’re sitting in your doctor’s office and you’re absorbing the news: you have hearing loss. So you ask your doctor if your hearing will ever return. And the answer is… maybe.
It’s a little anticlimactic, speaking dramatically.
But it’s also the truth. Hearing loss comes in two general forms:
- Blockage induced hearing loss: You can exhibit every sign of hearing loss when your ear has some sort of blockage. A wide range of things, from something gross (earwax) to something frightening (a tumor), can be the cause of this obstruction. Fortunately, once the obstruction is removed, your hearing often goes back to normal.
- Damage related hearing loss: But hearing loss has another more prevalent type. Known medically as sensorineural hearing loss, this form of hearing loss is effectively permanent. Here’s what happens: there are tiny hairs in your ear that vibrate when hit with moving air (sound waves). When vibrations are transformed into signals, they are transmitted to the brain which renders them into the sounds you perceive. But loud sounds can cause damage to the hairs and, over time, reduce your hearing to the point where you require treatment.
So the bottom line is this: there’s one type of hearing loss you can recuperate from, and you may need to get tested to see which one you have.
Treating Hearing Loss
So at this time there’s no “cure” for sensorineural hearing loss (though scientists are working on that). But your hearing loss still might be manageable. Here are some ways that the proper treatment might help you:
- Preserve a high quality of life.
- Stay engaged socially, keeping isolation at bay.
- Cope successfully with any of the symptoms of hearing loss you might be going through.
- Preserve and protect the hearing you have left.
- Help fend off mental decline.
Of the many forms of treatment available, which one is the right choice for you depends on the severity of your hearing loss. One of the most prevalent treatments is pretty simple: hearing aids.
Why is Hearing Loss Successfully Treated With Hearing AIds?
You can return to the things and people you enjoy with the help of hearing aids. They can help you hear the discussions, the phone, your tv, or even just the birds in the park. Hearing aids can also take some of the pressure off of your brain because you won’t be struggling to hear.
Prevention is The Best Protection
Loud noises and other things that would harm your hearing should be avoided and your ears should be safeguarded against them. Your overall health and well being depend on good hearing. Regular hearing care, such as annual hearing tests, is just another kind of self-care.
