The underlying basis of noise-induced hearing loss might seem well-founded. After all, the name itself suggests a fairly direct cause-and-effect relationship. Our basic understanding is that irreversible hearing damage is a result of exposure to overly loud sound over a long period of time.
And while that’s relevant, the mechanisms behind that cause haven’t always been so well established. That’s changing, thanks to emerging research into the role of zinc regulation after exposure to loud noises. This research suggests that there’s an important link between zinc and hearing loss.
How is hearing impairment impacted by zinc?
Zinc is a commonplace mineral. The majority of people have plenty of zinc in their bodies, carrying out specific and essential functions. Zinc helps your brain interpret chemical signals and is linked to immune system functions. With a few exceptions, the vast majority of individuals receive enough zinc from their food every day.
The connection between zinc and hearing loss may, at first glance, be difficult to identify. The connection between zinc and hearing isn’t, after all, immediately obvious. However, a novel experiment has shed some light on what’s happening.
Researchers exposed mice to loud sounds and carried out a few analyses afterward. When exposed to loud noises, the same thing happens to mice as happens to humans: the fragile parts of the ear are damaged. For humans, sound will initially become temporarily muffled. This will become more acute and more permanent as chronic noise exposure continues. This damage can’t be cured in either humans or mice.
Researchers also took blood samples from the mice and noticed some interesting results in terms of free-floating zinc.
Is hearing loss caused or helped by zinc?
Scientists now have a greater picture 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 detected zinc in free-floating form after the experiment’s mice were exposed to loud noise. It’s likely the same thing happens in humans.
This zinc de-regulation ends 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 type of damage that causes noise-induced hearing loss.
How to treat hearing loss
As scientists gain a greater understanding of this, they may be able to develop novel ways to prevent hearing loss in individuals who are frequently subjected to loud noise. However, it may be some time before those advancements become a viable reality. But that doesn’t mean your ears can’t be protected.
So, you might be wondering: how can I prevent noise-induced hearing loss?
Here are several steps you can take to safeguard your hearing:
- Regulate your exposure to loud noises: This obviously includes noises like jet engines, concerts, or sporting events. But most people would also be surprised to learn that everyday sounds like chatty offices, traffic, or leaf blowers can also lead to hearing damage.
- Use ear 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 example, wear a set of ear plugs to ensure you can still hear, but that your ears don’t become permanently damaged as a consequence.
- Routinely check in with your hearing specialist: Getting a hearing screening (and regularly checking in with us) can help identify damage early.
Understand the causes, protect your ears
Can you cure noise-related hearing loss? Regrettably not. Although you can successfully manage this form of hearing loss and any related 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.
This research is most likely just the first step in a longer undertaking. But we appear to be getting closer to understanding. Your immediate role is to get your hearing evaluated and use hearing protection.