It might seem as if the roots of noise-related hearing loss are functionally well-established. A fairly clear-cut cause-and-effect relationship is suggested by the name, after all. Our fundamental understanding is that permanent hearing damage is caused by exposure to overly loud noise over a long period of time.
Though we’ve recognized this for some time now, we haven’t perfectly understood the inherent mechanisms behind it. That’s changing, thanks to new research into the role of zinc regulation after exposure to loud sounds. This research indicates that there’s an important link between zinc and hearing loss.
How is hearing loss affected by zinc?
Zinc is a commonplace mineral. Most people 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. With a few exceptions, most individuals get enough zinc from their food every day.
The connection between zinc and hearing loss may, at first sight, be difficult to identify. The relationship between zinc and hearing isn’t, after all, instantly obvious. However, a unique experiment has shed some light on what’s happening.
Researchers engaged in some analysis on mice that were exposed to loud sound. When exposed to loud noises, the same thing happens to mice as happens to humans: the sensitive parts of the ear are damaged. In humans, this may first be encountered as a temporary muffling of sound. This will become more acute and more permanent as persistent noise exposure continues. In both mice and humans, the body is not able to heal or repair this damage.
Researchers also took blood samples from the mice and noticed some interesting results in terms of free-floating zinc.
Is hearing loss caused or helped by zinc?
Because of this research, scientists now have a better understanding of how noise-related hearing loss symptoms occur. Typically, zinc in the body is molecularly bound. During the experiment, researchers noticed that zinc became free-floating after the ears were exposed to loud noises and sound-induced stresses. It’s likely the same thing occurs in humans.
The free-floating zinc causes damage to fragile parts of the inner ear that are essential in order to hear clearly. Scientists are now thinking that this is one of the mechanisms that produces hearing damage related to noise exposure.
Treating hearing loss
In the future, this kind of understanding may help scientists stop noise-related hearing loss from ever happening, even in those individuals who are frequently subjected to loud noises. Regrettably, these advancements are likely still some ways off. But there are still other ways to safeguard your ears.
So, you might be asking: how can I prevent noise-related hearing loss?
There are a number of strategies you can employ to protect your ears:
- Wear ear protection: Ear muffs and ear plugs can help your ears cope with loud environments that you can’t, or don’t want to stay away from. A set of earplugs can, for instance, allow you to attend that loud concert and still be able to hear the music but also provide some protection against irreversible hearing loss.
- Regularly check in with your hearing specialist: Detecting damage as early as possible can help reduce 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 sounds: This clearly includes noises such as jet engines, concerts, or sporting events. 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.
Understand the causes, safeguard your ears
Can you reverse noise-induced hearing loss? Sadly no. This form of hearing loss and tinnitus cannot be cured, though it can be managed quite successfully. Strategies created to keep your hearing safe will be more successful the better you understand the mechanisms behind hearing loss.
This research is probably just the first step in a longer undertaking. But we appear to be getting closer to understanding. Your immediate role is to get your hearing evaluated and use ear protection.