It may seem as though the roots of noise-related hearing loss are functionally well-established. A fairly clear-cut cause-and-effect relationship is suggested by the name, after all. The universal understanding is simply that loud noises damage the hearing mechanisms in the ear, resulting in long-term and permanent hearing loss.
And while that’s accurate, the mechanisms underpinning that cause haven’t always been so well understood. But because of recent research, we’re gaining a greater understanding of noise-related hearing loss, and this includes the role of zinc intake after being exposed to loud noises. This research indicates that there’s a significant connection between zinc and hearing loss.
How is hearing loss impacted by zinc?
Zinc is a mineral required for carrying out necessary bodily functions and most people have plenty of it. Healthy amounts of zinc are connected with a well-functioning immune system and play a role in how well your brain interprets chemical signals. In most instances, a person’s diet supplies enough zinc.
At first glance, it may be challenging to determine the association between hearing loss and zinc. After all, it’s not immediately obvious what role zinc plays in your hearing. A new experiment has started to expose what’s going on, however.
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 experienced as a temporary muffling of sound. This will become more acute and more permanent as persistent noise exposure continues. This damage can’t be healed in either humans or mice.
After taking some blood samples from the mice, some intriguing results in terms of free-floating zinc were revealed.
Is hearing loss caused or helped by zinc?
Because of this research, scientists now better understand how noise-related hearing loss symptoms occur. Usually, when zinc is in the body, it’s bound molecularly. During the experiment, researchers observed that zinc became free-floating when the ears were subjected to loud noises and sound-related stresses. It’s likely the same thing happens in humans.
This zinc de-regulation winds up causing 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 think results in the type of damage that causes noise-induced hearing loss.
How to manage hearing loss
Over time, this sort of understanding may help scientists prevent noise-related hearing loss from ever happening, even in those people who are often subjected to loud noises. Unfortunately, these advancements 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-induced hearing loss?
There are a number of approaches you may utilize to protect your ears:
- Consistently check in with your hearing specialist: Getting a hearing test (and routinely checking in with us) can help identify damage early.
- Use hearing protection: If there are noisy settings you want to be in, or simply can’t stay away from, ear plugs and ear muffs can help lessen the damage. A pair of earplugs can, for example, allow you to attend that loud concert and still be able to hear the music but also provide some protection against permanent hearing loss.
- Limit your exposure to loud sounds: Sporting events, concerts, and jet engines come under this category. But most individuals would also be surprised to discover that everyday noises like chatty offices, traffic, or leaf blowers can also cause hearing damage.
Protect your ears by understanding causes
Can noise-induced hearing loss be cured? Sadly no. Even though you can successfully treat this form of hearing loss and any associated tinnitus, it has no cure. 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 designed to keep your hearing safe.
This research is probably just the first step in a longer process. But we seem to be getting closer to understanding. On an individual level, it’s crucial to take measures to safeguard your hearing and check in with your hearing specialist.