It may seem as if the causes of noise-related hearing loss are functionally well-recognized. A fairly clear-cut cause-and-effect connection is indicated by the name, after all. Our basic understanding is that irreversible hearing damage is caused by exposure to overly loud sound over a long period of time.
And while that’s true, the mechanisms behind that cause have not always been so well established. That’s changing, thanks to emerging research into the role of zinc regulation after exposure to loud noises. Hearing loss and zinc regulation have an important connection according to this research.
How is hearing loss impacted by zinc?
Zinc is a mineral needed for executing necessary bodily functions and most individuals have plenty of it. Zinc helps your brain interpret chemical signals and is connected to immune system functions. With a few exceptions, the vast majority of people receive plenty of zinc from their food every day.
At first glance, it might be difficult to determine the association between hearing loss and zinc. After all, it’s not instantly clear what role zinc plays in your hearing. A new experiment has begun to reveal what’s going on, however.
Researchers performed 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. In humans, this might first be experienced 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 research, scientists now have a better understanding of how noise-induced hearing loss symptoms happen. Normally, when zinc is in the body, it’s bound molecularly. During the experiment, researchers noticed that zinc became free-floating after the ears were exposed to loud noises and sound-related stresses. Zinc most likely reacts the same way in humans.
This zinc de-regulation ends up causing cellular damage to the inner ear, specifically to the parts of the inner ear responsible for clear hearing. This is the mechanism that scientists now believe leads to the type of damage that causes noise-related hearing loss.
Treating hearing loss
As scientists reach a greater understanding of this, they might be able to develop novel approaches to prevent hearing loss in individuals who are regularly exposed to loud noise. However, it may 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-related hearing loss?
There are a number of approaches you may use to safeguard your ears:
- Regulate 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 may be surprising, and that includes things like a leaf blower, traffic, or people speaking loudly in a busy office.
- Wear hearing protection: Ear muffs and ear plugs can help your ears cope with loud environments that you can’t, or don’t want to avoid. A set of earplugs can, for example, allow you to attend that loud concert and still be able to hear the music but also provide some protection against permanent hearing loss.
- Routinely check in with your hearing specialist: Discovering damage as early as possible can help decrease long-term damage, and coming in to see us for a routine hearing test is the best way to do that.
Understand the causes, protect your ears
Can you reverse noise-related hearing loss? Unfortunately not. This type of hearing loss and tinnitus can’t be cured, though it can be managed very successfully. Better understanding the causes of hearing loss and the mechanisms by which hearing loss functions can help hearing specialists (and you) develop better techniques and treatments tailored to keep your hearing safe.
This research is most likely just the first step in a longer process. But every bit helps. On a personal level, it’s important to take measures to protect your hearing and check in with your hearing specialist.