The underlying basis of noise-induced hearing loss may seem well-founded. A fairly obvious cause-and-effect relationship is indicated by the name, after all. Our basic understanding is that permanent hearing damage is caused by exposure to overly loud sound 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 gaining a greater understanding of noise-related hearing loss, and this includes the role of zinc intake after being exposed to loud noises. This research suggests that there’s a significant link between zinc and hearing loss.
How is hearing impairment affected by zinc?
Zinc is a commonplace mineral. The majority of individuals have plenty of zinc in their bodies, performing distinct and necessary functions. Zinc helps your brain translate chemical signals and is linked to immune system functions. With a few exceptions, the vast majority of people get enough zinc from their daily food intake.
The connection between zinc and hearing loss may, at first glance, be difficult to recognize. After all, it isn’t instantly obvious what role zinc plays in your hearing. However, a novel experiment has shed some light on what’s going on.
Researchers exposed mice to loud noises and conducted a few analyses afterward. In mice, as with humans, the sensitive mechanisms of the ear become damaged when exposed to loud sound. In humans, this may first be encountered as a temporary muffling of sound. This will become more acute and more permanent as chronic noise exposure continues. This damage can’t be cured in either humans or mice.
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?
Because of this result, scientists now better understand how noise-related hearing loss symptoms occur. 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. Zinc most likely reacts the same way in humans.
This zinc de-regulation winds up causing cellular damage to the inner ear, particularly to the parts of the inner ear in control of clear hearing. Scientists are now thinking that this is one of the mechanisms that causes hearing damage related to noise exposure.
Treating hearing loss
In the future, this sort of understanding may help scientists prevent noise-related hearing loss from ever happening, 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 can’t be protected.
So, you may be asking: how can I prevent noise-induced hearing loss?
There are a number of strategies you may employ to safeguard your ears:
- Use ear protection: If there are noisy environments you want to be in, or merely can’t stay away from, ear plugs and ear muffs can help minimize the damage. A pair 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 permanent hearing loss.
- Routinely check in with your hearing specialist: Discovering damage as early as possible can help reduce long-term damage, and coming in to see us for a routine hearing test is the best way to do that.
- Limit your exposure to loud noises: This clearly includes noises like jet engines, concerts, or sporting events. 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 individuals talking loudly in a bustling office.
Understand the causes, safeguard your ears
Can you cure noise-induced hearing loss? Unfortunately not. Although you can successfully treat this type of hearing loss and any related tinnitus, it can’t be cured. Strategies created to keep your hearing safe will be more successful the better you understand the mechanisms behind hearing loss.
Even though this research is encouraging, we still have a ways to go. But every bit helps. Your immediate role is to get your hearing checked and use ear protection.
