The underlying basis of noise-induced hearing loss may seem well-understood. After all, the name itself suggests a fairly straightforward cause-and-effect relationship. The common understanding is simply that loud sounds damage the hearing mechanisms in the ear, resulting in long-term and irreversible hearing loss.
And while that’s accurate, the mechanisms underpinning that cause haven’t always been so well established. That’s improving, thanks to new research into the role of zinc regulation after exposure to loud noises. This research reveals that there’s a significant link between zinc and hearing loss.
What is zinc? And how does it impact hearing impairment?
Zinc is a mineral needed for carrying out necessary bodily functions and most individuals have plenty of it. Zinc helps your brain translate chemical signals and is connected to immune system functions. In most cases, a person’s diet provides plenty of zinc.
At first glance, it might be challenging to see the connection between hearing loss and zinc. The connection between zinc and hearing isn’t, after all, immediately apparent. However, a unique experiment has shed some light on what’s happening.
Researchers did some analysis on mice that were exposed to loud sound. In mice, as with humans, the sensitive mechanisms of the ear become damaged when exposed to loud noise. For humans, sound will initially become impermanently muffled. As a person is regularly exposed to loud sound, this damage will become more severe and lasting. This damage can’t be healed in either humans or mice.
Researchers also took blood samples from the mice and observed some interesting results in terms of free-floating zinc.
Does zinc help or cause hearing loss?
Because of this research, scientists now better understand how noise-related hearing loss symptoms occur. Normally, 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-induced stresses. It’s likely the same thing happens in humans.
The free-floating zinc causes damage to delicate portions of the inner ear that are crucial in order to hear clearly. This is the mechanism that scientists now think leads to the type of damage that causes noise-related hearing loss.
Treating hearing loss
In the future, this kind of understanding may help scientists stop noise-related hearing loss from ever occurring, even in those individuals who are often exposed to loud noises. However, it might be some time before those advancements become a viable reality. But there are still other ways to protect your ears.
So, you might be wondering: how can I prevent noise-related hearing loss?
There are several approaches you may employ to safeguard your ears:
- Regularly check in with your hearing specialist: Getting a hearing test (and regularly checking in with us) can help identify damage early.
- Wear hearing protection: Ear muffs and ear plugs can help your ears manage loud environments that you can’t, or don’t want to stay away from. A pair of earplugs can, for example, allow you to go to that loud concert and still be able to hear the music but also offer some protection against irreversible hearing loss.
- Regulate your exposure to loud noises: This obviously includes noises like jet engines, concerts, or sporting events. But there are some more commonplace noises that can cause hearing loss that might be surprising, including things like a leaf blower, traffic, or people talking loudly in a bustling office.
Understand the causes, protect your ears
Can you reverse noise-induced hearing loss? Sadly no. This form of hearing loss and tinnitus can’t be cured, though it can be managed very successfully. Better understanding the causes of hearing loss and the mechanisms by which hearing loss functions can help hearing specialists (and you) develop better techniques and treatments tailored to keep your hearing safe.
This research is 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.
