The underlying foundation of noise-induced hearing loss may seem well-understood. A fairly clear-cut cause-and-effect relationship is suggested by the name, after all. Our fundamental understanding is that irreversible hearing damage is caused by exposure to overly loud noise over a long period of time.
Though we’ve known this for some time now, we haven’t entirely understood the inherent mechanisms behind it. But because of recent research, we’re developing a greater understanding of noise-related hearing loss, and this includes the role of zinc intake after being exposed to loud sounds. This research indicates that there’s a significant link between zinc and hearing loss.
What is zinc? And how does it affect hearing loss?
Zinc is a commonplace mineral. Most people have plenty of zinc in their bodies, performing distinct and necessary functions. Zinc helps your brain interpret chemical signals and is linked to immune system functions. In most cases, a person’s diet supplies enough zinc.
The connection between zinc and hearing loss might, at first glance, be difficult to recognize. After all, it’s not immediately obvious what role zinc plays in your hearing. A new experiment has started to reveal what’s going on, however.
Researchers performed some analysis on mice that were exposed to loud noise. In mice, as with humans, the sensitive mechanisms of the ear become damaged when exposed to loud noise. In humans, this may first be experienced as a temporary muffling of sound. This will become more serious and more permanent as chronic noise exposure continues. In both mice and humans, the body isn’t able to heal or repair this damage.
After taking some blood samples from the mice, some fascinating results in terms of free-floating zinc were revealed.
Is hearing loss caused or helped by zinc?
Scientists now have a better picture of how the symptoms of noise-related hearing loss occur because of this research. Normally, when zinc is in the body, it’s bound molecularly. During the experiment, researchers observed that zinc became free-floating when the ears were subjected to loud noises and sound-related stresses. It’s likely the same thing occurs in humans.
The free-floating zinc causes damage to sensitive 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.
Treating hearing loss
As scientists gain a greater understanding of this, they might be able to formulate novel ways to prevent hearing loss in individuals who are regularly subjected to loud noise. Regrettably, these advancements are likely still some ways off. But there are still other ways to safeguard your ears.
So, how can you protect yourself from noise-related hearing loss?
Here are a few steps you can take to protect your hearing:
- Regularly check in with your hearing specialist: Detecting damage as early as possible can help minimize long-term damage, and coming in to see us for a routine hearing test is the best way to do that.
- Use ear protection: If there are noisy settings you want to be in, or merely can’t stay away from, ear plugs and ear muffs can help minimize 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.
- Limit your exposure to loud sounds: Sporting events, concerts, and jet engines fall into this category. But most people would also be surprised to discover that everyday sounds like chatty workplaces, traffic, or leaf blowers can also lead to hearing damage.
Understand the causes, protect your ears
Can you reverse noise-related hearing loss? Sadly no. This kind of hearing loss and tinnitus can’t be cured, though it can be managed quite successfully. Strategies created 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 we appear to be getting closer to understanding. Your direct role is to get your hearing tested and use ear protection.
