It may seem as though the roots of noise-induced hearing loss are functionally well understood. After all, the name itself indicates a fairly straightforward cause-and-effect relationship. The common understanding is simply that loud noises damage the hearing mechanisms in the ear, resulting in long-term and irreversible hearing loss.
And while that’s true, the mechanisms underpinning that cause have not always been so well understood. That’s changing, thanks to new research into the role of zinc regulation after exposure to loud sounds. This research suggests that there’s an important link between zinc and hearing loss.
What is zinc? And how does it impact hearing loss?
Zinc is a common mineral. Most people have plenty of zinc in their bodies, performing specific and necessary functions. Healthy levels of zinc are associated with a well-functioning immune system and play a role in how well your brain interprets chemical signals. With a few exceptions, the vast majority of people receive plenty of zinc from their food every day.
At first glance, it may be challenging to see the relationship between hearing loss and zinc. After all, it’s not immediately clear what role zinc plays in your hearing. However, a novel experiment shed some light on what’s happening.
Researchers exposed mice to loud noises and performed a few analyses afterwards. When exposed to loud noises, the same thing happens to mice as happens to humans: the delicate parts of the ear become damaged. (In humans, this may first be experienced as a temporary muffling of sound. This will become more serious and more permanent as chronic noise exposure continues.) In both mice and humans, the body is not capable of healing or repairing this damage.
Researchers also took blood samples from the mice, and noticed some interesting results in terms of free floating zinc.
Does zinc help or cause hearing loss?
Because of this result, scientists now better understand how noise induced hearing loss symptoms occur. Typically, zinc in the body is molecularly bound. During the experiment, researchers noticed that zinc became free floating after the ears were exposed to loud noises and sound-related stresses. It’s likely the same thing happens in humans.
This zinc de-regulation ends up causing cellular damage to the inner ear–specifically to the parts of the inner ear responsible for clear hearing. This is the mechanism that scientists now believe results in the kind of damage that causes noise-induced hearing loss.
How to treat hearing loss
In the future, this kind of understanding may help scientists prevent noise induced hearing loss from ever occurring–even in those individuals who are often exposed to loud noises. Unfortunately, these developments are likely still some ways off. But that doesn’t mean your ears are defenseless.
So, you may be asking: how can I prevent noise induced hearing loss? There are several strategies you may employ to protect your ears:
- Limit your exposure to loud noises: This clearly includes noises like jet engines or concerts or sporting events. But many people would also be surprised to learn that everyday noises like chatty workplaces, traffic, or leaf blowers can also cause hearing damage.
- Wear hearing protection: Ear muffs and ear plugs can help your ears cope with loud environments that you can’t–or don’t want to–avoid. If you go to that concert, for example, wear a pair of ear plugs to ensure you can still hear, but that your ears don’t become permanently damaged as a result.
- Consistently check in with your hearing specialist: Undergoing a hearing screening (and regularly checking in with your hearing specialist) can help detect damage early. And having that information can help you take steps to protect your hearing!
Understand the causes, protect your ears
Can you reverse noise induced hearing loss? Unfortunately not. This type of hearing loss and tinnitus cannot be cured–though it can be managed quite successfully. Better understanding the cause of hearing loss and the mechanism by which hearing loss works can help hearing specialists (and you) develop better strategies and treatments designed to keep your hearing safe.
This research is likely just the first step in a longer process. But every bit helps. On an individual level, it’s important to take steps to protect your hearing and check in with a hearing specialist near you.