The underlying foundation of noise-induced hearing loss may seem well-founded. A fairly obvious cause-and-effect relationship is suggested by the name, after all. Our fundamental understanding is that irreversible hearing damage is a result of exposure to overly loud sound over a long period of time.
And while that’s accurate, the mechanisms underpinning that cause haven’t always been so well established. That’s improving, thanks to emerging research into the role of zinc regulation after exposure to loud noises. Hearing loss and zinc regulation have an important link according to this research.
What is zinc? And how does it impact hearing loss?
Zinc is a mineral needed for executing necessary bodily functions and most people 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 supplies plenty of zinc.
The connection between zinc and hearing loss may, at first glance, be difficult to identify. The connection between zinc and hearing isn’t, after all, immediately apparent. However, a unique experiment has shed some light on what’s happening.
Researchers exposed mice to loud noises and carried out a few analyses afterward. When exposed to loud noises, the same thing happens to mice as happens to humans: the fragile parts of the ear are damaged. 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 capable of healing or repairing 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 better understand how noise-related hearing loss symptoms happen. Usually, when zinc is in the body, it’s bound molecularly. Researchers discovered zinc in free-floating form when the experiment’s mice were subjected to loud noise. Zinc most likely behaves the same way in humans.
This zinc de-regulation ends up doing cellular damage to the inner ear, specifically to the parts of the inner ear in control of clear hearing. This is the mechanism that scientists now think results in the kind of damage that causes noise-related hearing loss.
How to manage hearing loss
As scientists gain a better understanding of this, they might be able to develop novel approaches to prevent hearing loss in individuals who are frequently exposed to loud noise. Unfortunately, these developments are likely still some ways off. But that doesn’t mean your ears can’t be protected.
So, how can you safeguard yourself from noise-related hearing loss?
There are several approaches you may use to safeguard your ears:
- Wear ear protection: Ear muffs and ear plugs can help your ears deal with loud settings that you can’t, or don’t want to stay away from. A pair of earplugs can, for example, allow you to go to that loud concert and still be capable of hearing the music but also offer some protection against irreversible hearing loss.
- Consistently check in with your hearing specialist: Detecting damage as early as possible can help decrease long-term damage, and coming in to see us for a regular hearing test is the best way to do that.
- Regulate 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 workplaces, traffic, or lawnmowers can also result in hearing damage.
Understand the causes, safeguard your ears
Can you cure noise-related hearing loss? Sadly no. Although you can effectively treat this form of hearing loss and any associated tinnitus, it has no cure. Strategies created to keep your hearing safe will be more effective the better you understand the mechanisms behind hearing loss.
Although this research is encouraging, we still have a ways to go. But we seem to be getting closer to understanding. Your direct role is to get your hearing examined and use ear protection.