The underlying foundation of noise-induced hearing loss may seem well-understood. A fairly obvious cause-and-effect relationship is indicated by the name, after all. Our basic understanding is that permanent 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 have not always been so well established. But because of new research, we’re developing a greater understanding of noise-induced hearing loss, including the role of zinc intake after being exposed to loud noises. This research suggests that there’s an important link between zinc and hearing loss.
What is zinc? And how does it impact hearing impairment?
Zinc is a mineral needed for carrying out necessary bodily functions and most individuals have plenty of it. Healthy levels of zinc are connected with a well-functioning immune system and play a part in how well your brain interprets chemical signals. In most instances, a person’s diet provides plenty of zinc.
At first glance, it might be challenging to see the association between hearing loss and zinc. The connection between zinc and hearing isn’t, after all, instantly obvious. A new experiment has started 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 fragile parts of the ear become damaged. For humans, sound will initially become temporarily muffled. 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.
After taking some blood samples from the mice, some fascinating results in terms of free-floating zinc were discovered.
Is hearing loss caused or helped by zinc?
Scientists now have a greater picture of how the symptoms of noise-induced hearing loss happen because of these results. Usually, when zinc is in the body, it’s bound molecularly. Researchers detected zinc in free-floating form after the experiment’s mice were subjected to loud noise. It’s likely the same thing occurs in humans.
The free-floating zinc causes damage to fragile portions of the inner ear that are essential in order to hear clearly. This is the mechanism that scientists now believe results in the type of damage that causes noise-induced hearing loss.
Treating hearing loss
In the future, this kind of understanding might help scientists stop noise-related hearing loss from ever occurring, even in those individuals who are often subjected to loud noises. However, it might be some time before those developments become a viable reality. But that doesn’t mean your ears are defenseless.
So, how can you protect yourself from noise-related hearing loss?
Here are several measures you can take to protect your hearing:
- Routinely check in with your hearing specialist: Discovering damage as early as possible can help minimize long-term damage, and coming in to see us for a regular hearing test is the best way to do that.
- Limit your exposure to loud sounds: Sporting events, concerts, and jet engines belong to this category. But there are some more commonplace noises that can cause hearing loss that might be surprising, and that includes things like a leaf blower, traffic, or people speaking loudly in a busy office.
- Use hearing protection: If there are loud settings you want to be in, or merely can’t avoid, ear plugs and ear muffs can help lessen the damage. If you go to that concert, for example, wear a set of ear plugs to ensure you can still hear, but that your ears don’t become irreversibly damaged as a consequence.
Protect your ears by understanding causes
Can you cure noise-induced hearing loss? Sadly no. This type of hearing loss and tinnitus cannot be cured, though it can be managed quite effectively. Better understanding the causes of hearing loss and the mechanisms by which hearing loss works can help hearing specialists (and you) formulate better strategies and treatments tailored to keep your hearing safe.
This research is most likely just the first step in a longer undertaking. But every bit helps. On an individual level, it’s crucial to take steps to protect your hearing and check in with your hearing specialist.
