The underlying basis of noise-related hearing loss may seem well-founded. A fairly clear-cut cause-and-effect connection is indicated by the name, after all. The universal understanding is simply that loud sounds damage the hearing mechanisms in the ear, resulting in long-term and irreversible hearing loss.
And while that’s relevant, the mechanisms underpinning that cause haven’t always been so well understood. But because of recent research, we’re gaining a deeper 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 link according to this research.
What is zinc? And how does it affect hearing loss?
Zinc is a commonplace mineral. The majority of people have plenty of zinc in their bodies, performing specific and necessary functions. Healthy amounts of zinc are associated with a well-functioning immune system and play a part in how well your brain interprets chemical signals. With a few exceptions, most individuals receive enough zinc from their food every day.
At first glance, it may be challenging to determine the association between hearing loss and zinc. The link between zinc and hearing isn’t, after all, immediately obvious. However, a unique 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 noise. In humans, this may first be encountered as a temporary muffling of sound. This will become more serious and more permanent as persistent noise exposure continues. In both mice and humans, the body is not 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 revealed.
Is hearing loss caused or helped by zinc?
Scientists now have a better understanding of how the symptoms of noise-induced hearing loss happen because of this research. Normally, when zinc is in the body, it’s bound molecularly. Researchers discovered zinc in free-floating form after the experiment’s mice were exposed to loud noise. Zinc most likely responds the same way in humans.
This zinc de-regulation ends up causing cellular damage to the inner ear, particularly to the parts of the inner ear in control of clear hearing. This is the mechanism that scientists now think results in the type of damage that causes noise-related hearing loss.
Managing hearing loss
As scientists gain a greater understanding of this, they may be able to develop novel approaches to prevent hearing loss in people who are regularly subjected to loud noise. Regrettably, these developments are likely still some ways off. But there are still other ways to safeguard your ears.
So, how can you protect yourself from noise-related hearing loss?
Here are a few steps you can take to safeguard your hearing:
- Use hearing protection: Ear muffs and ear plugs can help your ears manage noisy settings that you can’t, or don’t want to stay away from. If you go to that concert, for instance, use a pair of ear plugs to ensure you can still hear, but that your ears don’t become irreversibly damaged as a result.
- Regulate your exposure to loud sounds: Sporting events, concerts, and jet engines come under 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 individuals talking loudly in a bustling office.
- 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 regular hearing test is the best way to do that.
Understand the causes, protect your ears
Can noise-related hearing loss be reversed? Sadly no. This form of hearing loss and tinnitus can’t be cured, though it can be managed very effectively. Better understanding the causes of hearing loss and the mechanisms by which hearing loss works can help hearing specialists (and you) develop better techniques and treatments tailored to keep your hearing safe.
Although this research is promising, we still have a ways to go. But we appear to be getting closer to understanding. Your immediate role is to get your hearing checked and use hearing protection.