The underlying foundation of noise-related hearing loss may seem well-founded. After all, the name itself suggests a fairly straightforward cause-and-effect relationship. The universal understanding is simply that loud sounds damage the hearing mechanisms in the ear, leading to long-term and irreversible hearing loss.
Though we’ve recognized this for some time now, we haven’t perfectly understood the underlying mechanisms behind it. That’s changing, thanks to emerging research into the role of zinc regulation after exposure to loud noises. This research indicates that there’s an important link between zinc and hearing loss.
What is zinc? And how does it impact hearing loss?
Zinc is a common mineral. Most individuals have an abundance of zinc in their bodies, carrying out specific and necessary functions. Zinc helps your brain interpret chemical signals and is connected to immune system functions. In most instances, a person’s diet provides plenty of zinc.
The link between zinc and hearing loss might, at first sight, be difficult to identify. After all, it isn’t instantly clear what role zinc plays in your hearing. A new experiment has begun to reveal what’s going on, however.
Researchers exposed mice to loud sounds and performed a few analyses afterward. 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 a person is regularly exposed to loud noise, this damage will become more serious and lasting. This damage can’t be cured in either humans or mice.
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?
Because of this research, scientists now have a better understanding of how noise-induced hearing loss symptoms occur. Usually, when zinc is in the body, it’s bound molecularly. During the experiment, researchers noticed that zinc became free-floating when the ears were exposed to loud noises and sound-related stresses. It’s likely the same thing occurs in humans.
This zinc de-regulation ends up causing cellular damage to the inner ear, specifically to the parts of the inner ear in control of clear hearing. Scientists are now thinking that this is one of the mechanisms that produces hearing damage due to noise exposure.
How to manage hearing loss
As scientists gain a greater understanding of this, they may be able to formulate novel methods to prevent hearing loss in people who are frequently exposed to loud noise. Unfortunately, these advancements are likely still some ways off. But that doesn’t mean your ears are defenseless.
So, how can you protect yourself from noise-induced hearing loss?
Here are several measures you can take to safeguard your hearing:
- Regularly check in with your hearing specialist: Getting a hearing test (and routinely checking in with us) can help detect damage early.
- Use ear protection: If there are noisy environments you want to be in, or simply can’t stay away from, ear plugs and ear muffs can help decrease the damage. A set of earplugs can, for instance, allow you to attend that loud concert and still be able to hear the music but also offer some protection against irreversible hearing loss.
- Limit your exposure to loud noises: Sporting events, concerts, and jet engines belong to this category. But most individuals would also be surprised to discover that everyday sounds like chatty offices, traffic, or lawnmowers can also lead to hearing damage.
Understand the causes, safeguard your ears
Can noise-related hearing loss be cured? Regrettably not. Even though you can effectively treat this type of hearing loss and any associated tinnitus, it can’t be cured. Better understanding the causes of hearing loss and the mechanisms by which hearing loss functions can help hearing specialists (and you) develop better strategies and treatments designed to keep your hearing safe.
This research is most likely just the first step in a longer undertaking. But every bit helps. Your immediate role is to get your hearing tested and use hearing protection.