The underlying foundation of noise-induced hearing loss might seem well-founded. A fairly obvious cause-and-effect relationship is indicated by the name, after all. 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 perfectly understood the underlying 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 noises. This research suggests that there’s a significant connection between zinc and hearing loss.
How is hearing loss affected by zinc?
Zinc is a mineral needed for carrying out necessary bodily functions and the majority of individuals have plenty of it. Zinc helps your brain interpret chemical signals and is linked to immune system functions. With a few exceptions, the vast majority of people get enough zinc from their food every day.
At first, it might be challenging to determine the association between hearing loss and zinc. After all, it isn’t immediately clear what role zinc plays in your hearing. However, a unique experiment has shed some light on what’s going on.
Researchers exposed mice to loud noises and carried out a few analyses afterward. When exposed to loud sounds, the same thing happens to mice as happens to humans: the delicate parts of the ear become damaged. In humans, this might first be experienced 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 isn’t capable of healing or repairing this damage.
Researchers also took blood samples from the mice and observed some fascinating results in terms of free-floating zinc.
Does zinc help or cause hearing loss?
Because of this research, scientists now better understand how noise-induced hearing loss symptoms happen. Usually, when zinc is in the body, it’s bound molecularly. Researchers detected zinc in free-floating form when the experiment’s mice were exposed to loud noise. It’s likely the same thing occurs in humans.
This zinc de-regulation winds up doing cellular damage to the inner ear, specifically to the parts of the inner ear in control of clear hearing. This is the mechanism that scientists now believe leads to the kind of damage that causes noise-induced hearing loss.
Managing hearing loss
Over time, this type of understanding might help scientists prevent noise-related hearing loss from ever happening, even in those people who are frequently exposed to loud noises. However, it might be some time before those developments become a viable reality. But that doesn’t mean your ears can’t be protected.
So, you may be wondering: how can I prevent noise-related hearing loss?
Here are a few measures you can take to protect your hearing:
- Routinely check in with your hearing specialist: Undergoing a hearing screening (and regularly checking in with us) can help identify damage early.
- Use ear protection: Ear muffs and ear plugs can help your ears manage loud environments that you can’t, or don’t want to avoid. If you attend that concert, for example, wear a set of ear plugs to ensure you can still hear, but that your ears don’t become irreversibly damaged as a consequence.
- Regulate your exposure to loud sounds: Sporting events, concerts, and jet engines belong to this category. But most individuals would also be surprised to discover that everyday sounds like chatty offices, traffic, or leaf blowers can also cause hearing damage.
Protect your ears by understanding causes
Can noise-related hearing loss be reversed? Sadly no. Though you can effectively treat this type of hearing loss and any associated tinnitus, it can’t be cured. Strategies developed to keep your hearing safe will be more successful the better you understand the mechanisms behind hearing loss.
Even though this research is encouraging, we still have a ways to go. But we seem to be getting closer to understanding. On an individual level, it’s important to take measures to safeguard your hearing and check in with your hearing specialist.