It may seem as though the roots of noise-induced hearing loss are functionally well-established. After all, the name itself conveys a fairly direct cause-and-effect relationship. The common understanding is simply that loud noises damage the hearing mechanisms in the ear, resulting in long-term and irreversible hearing loss.
Though we’ve recognized this for some time now, we haven’t entirely understood the inherent mechanisms behind it. But because of new research, we’re gaining a greater understanding of noise-related hearing loss, including the role of zinc intake after being exposed to loud sounds. Hearing loss and zinc regulation have an important connection according to this research.
How is hearing loss affected by zinc?
Zinc is a commonplace mineral. The majority of individuals have an abundance of zinc in their bodies, performing distinct and necessary functions. Zinc helps your brain translate chemical signals and is linked to immune system functions. In most cases, a person’s diet provides enough zinc.
At first, it might be challenging to see the association between hearing loss and zinc. After all, it isn’t immediately obvious what role zinc plays in your hearing. However, a unique experiment has shed some light on what’s going on.
Researchers engaged in some analysis on mice that were exposed to loud sound. When exposed to loud sounds, the same thing happens to mice as happens to humans: the delicate parts of the ear become damaged. For humans, sound will initially become temporarily muffled. 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 intriguing results in terms of free-floating zinc were revealed.
Does zinc help or cause hearing loss?
Because of this result, scientists now better understand how noise-induced hearing loss symptoms occur. Normally, 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 sensitive parts of the inner ear that are crucial in order to hear clearly. Scientists are now thinking that this is one of the mechanisms that produces hearing damage related to noise exposure.
Managing hearing loss
As scientists gain a deeper understanding of this, they may be able to develop novel approaches to prevent hearing loss in people who are regularly 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, you may be asking: how can I prevent noise-related hearing loss?
There are a number of strategies you may utilize to safeguard your ears:
- Routinely check in with your hearing specialist: Undergoing a hearing screening (and routinely checking in with us) can help identify damage early.
- Use hearing protection: If there are noisy environments you want to be in, or simply can’t avoid, ear plugs and ear muffs can help minimize the damage. A set of earplugs can, for instance, allow you to go to that loud concert and still be able to hear the music but also provide some protection against irreversible hearing loss.
- Limit your exposure to loud sounds: Sporting events, concerts, and jet engines belong to this category. But many individuals would also be surprised to learn that everyday noises like chatty offices, traffic, or leaf blowers can also result in hearing damage.
Understand the causes, protect your ears
Can you cure noise-induced hearing loss? Sadly no. This type of hearing loss and tinnitus can’t be cured, though it can be managed quite successfully. Better understanding the causes of hearing loss and the mechanisms by which hearing loss functions can help hearing specialists (and you) formulate better strategies and treatments designed to keep your hearing safe.
This research is probably just the first step in a longer process. But every bit helps. On a personal level, it’s crucial to take measures to safeguard your hearing and check in with your hearing specialist.