The Healing Ability of Your Body
The physical body normally has the ability to recuperate from cuts, scratches, and broken bones, although the recovery process might differ in duration depending on the damage.
But you’re out of luck when it pertains to restoring the little hairs in your ears.
Up to this time, at least.
Animals have the capability to renew damaged cilia in their ears, restoring their hearing, a trait that scientists are currently attempting to replicate in people.
If you harm the hearing nerves or the tiny hairs, you could experience irreversible hearing loss.
When is Hearing Loss Permanent?
Upon identifying hearing loss, the initial worry that usually arises is whether the hearing will be recovered.
It is unclear if it will happen, as it depends on numerous variables.
Two principal forms of hearing loss:
- Obstruction-based loss of hearing: When there’s something obstructing your ear canal, you can experience all of the symptoms of hearing loss.
Earwax, debris, and abnormal growths can potentially block the ear canal.
Your hearing generally returns to normal after the blockage is eliminated, and that’s the good news. - Hearing loss caused by damage: But there’s another, more widespread kind of hearing loss that makes up around 90 percent of hearing loss.
This particular kind of hearing loss, known as sensorineural hearing loss in medical terms, is typically permanent.
The hearing process is activated by the impact of moving air on tiny hairs in the ear which transmit sound waves to the brain.
These vibrations are then transformed, by your brain, into signals that you hear as sound.
Prolonged exposure to loud noises can, however, lead to permanent damage to your hearing.
Injury to the inner ear or nerve can also cause sensorineural hearing loss.
In some cases of severe hearing loss, a cochlear implant may be able to enhance hearing function.
A hearing exam will help you determine whether hearing aids will help strengthen your hearing.
Treatment of Hearing Loss
Sensorineural hearing loss currently can’t be cured.
Treatment for your hearing loss may, however, be a possibility.
The following are some ways that obtaining the correct treatment can help you:
- Ensure your overall quality of life is unaffected or remains high.
- Successfully deal with any of the symptoms of hearing loss you may be suffering from.
- Preserve and safeguard the hearing you still have.
- Maintain relations and community involvement to avoid feelings of loneliness and solitude.
- Prevent cognitive decline.
This treatment can take many forms, and it’ll generally depend on how extreme your hearing loss is.
A frequently encouraged and rather straightforward strategy is the use of hearing aids.
How is Hearing Loss Treated by Hearing Aids
Individuals going through hearing loss can utilize hearing aids to detect sounds which will allow them to function more effectively.
Tiredness happens when the brain needs to work overtime to process sound.
Researchers have come to realize that extended mental inactivity poses a considerable risk to cognitive health, as new findings shed light on the value of continuous mental stimulation.
Hearing aids help you restore your cognitive function by allowing your ears to hear again.
Studies have shown that using hearing aids can substantially delay cognitive decline, with some studies suggesting a decrease of up to 75%.
Modern hearing aids will also allow you to focus on what you want to hear while tuning out background sounds.
Prevention is The Best Protection
Preserving your hearing is essential as once it’s lost, it’s usually irretrievable. If an object becomes lodged in your ear canal, it can likely be safely cleared out.
However, this doesn’t decrease the danger posed by loud noises, which can be damaging even if they don’t seem excessively loud to you.
So taking steps to protect your hearing is a wise decision.
If you are ever diagnosed with hearing loss later in life, you will have more treatment options if you take steps to safeguard your hearing now.
Treatment can help you live a wonderful, full life even if a cure isn’t possible.
To identify what your best option is, schedule an appointment with our hearing care specialist.