The underlying basis of noise-related hearing loss might seem well-founded. After all, the name itself indicates a fairly direct cause-and-effect relationship. The universal understanding is simply that loud sounds damage the hearing mechanisms in the ear, leading to long-term and irreversible hearing loss.
And while that’s true, the mechanisms underpinning that cause haven’t always been so well understood. That’s changing, thanks to emerging research into the role of zinc regulation after exposure to loud noises. This research suggests that there’s a significant connection between zinc and hearing loss.
How is hearing loss impacted by zinc?
Zinc is a commonplace mineral. Most people have an abundance of zinc in their bodies, performing specific and necessary functions. Zinc helps your brain translate chemical signals and is linked to immune system functions. With a few exceptions, most people get plenty of zinc from their food every day.
The link between zinc and hearing loss might, at first sight, be difficult to identify. The link between zinc and hearing isn’t, after all, instantly obvious. However, a unique experiment has shed some light on what’s going on.
Researchers exposed mice to loud noises and performed a few analyses afterward. In mice, as with humans, the fragile mechanisms of the ear become damaged when exposed to loud noise. In humans, this might first be encountered as a temporary muffling of sound. As an individual is regularly exposed to loud sound, this damage will become more serious and lasting. 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-related hearing loss symptoms happen. Normally, when zinc is in the body, it’s bound molecularly. Researchers discovered zinc in free-floating form when the experiment’s mice were exposed to loud noise. It’s likely the same thing occurs in humans.
The free-floating zinc causes damage to delicate parts of the inner ear that are crucial in order to hear clearly. This is the mechanism that scientists now believe leads to the kind of damage that causes noise-related hearing loss.
Managing hearing loss
As scientists reach a better understanding of this, they may be able to develop novel ways to prevent hearing loss in people who are frequently exposed to loud noise. Unfortunately, these advancements are likely still some ways off. But there are still other ways to safeguard your ears.
So, how can you safeguard yourself from noise-induced hearing loss?
Here are a few measures you can take to safeguard your hearing:
- Consistently check in with your hearing specialist: Getting a hearing screening (and regularly checking in with us) can help detect damage early.
- Use hearing protection: If there are noisy environments you want to be in, or simply can’t stay away from, ear plugs and ear muffs can help lessen the damage. A set 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.
- Limit your exposure to loud sounds: Sporting events, concerts, and jet engines fall into 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 individuals speaking loudly in a busy office.
Understand the causes, safeguard your ears
Can you cure noise-induced hearing loss? Regrettably not. This form of hearing loss and tinnitus cannot be cured, though it can be managed very effectively. Better understanding the causes of hearing loss and the mechanisms by which hearing loss functions can help hearing specialists (and you) develop better strategies and treatments tailored to keep your hearing safe.
This research is probably just the first step in a longer undertaking. But every bit helps. On a personal level, it’s essential to take measures to safeguard your hearing and check in with your hearing specialist.
