The underlying foundation of noise-related hearing loss may seem well-understood. After all, the name itself conveys 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 permanent hearing loss.
And while that’s relevant, the mechanisms underpinning that cause haven’t always been so well established. But because of new research, we’re developing a deeper understanding of noise-related hearing loss, and this includes the role of zinc intake after being exposed to loud noises. This research reveals that there’s a significant connection between zinc and hearing loss.
How is hearing impairment impacted by zinc?
Zinc is a commonplace mineral. Most individuals have plenty of zinc in their bodies, performing distinct and necessary functions. Healthy levels 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 provides enough zinc.
At first glance, it may be difficult 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 novel experiment has shed some light on what’s going on.
Researchers performed some analysis on mice that were exposed to loud noise. In mice, as with humans, the sensitive mechanisms of the ear become damaged when exposed to loud sound. For humans, sound will initially become impermanently muffled. As an individual is regularly exposed to loud noise, this damage will become more serious and lasting. This damage can’t be healed in either humans or mice.
Researchers also took blood samples from the mice and noticed some fascinating results in terms of free-floating zinc.
Does zinc help or cause hearing loss?
Scientists now have a better picture of how the symptoms of noise-related hearing loss occur because of these results. Normally, when zinc is in the body, it’s bound molecularly. Researchers detected zinc in free-floating form when the experiment’s mice were subjected to loud noise. It’s likely the same thing occurs in humans.
This zinc de-regulation winds up causing cellular damage to the inner ear, specifically to the parts of the inner ear responsible for clear hearing. Scientists are now thinking that this is one of the mechanisms that produces hearing damage related to noise exposure.
How to manage hearing loss
As scientists gain a better understanding of this, they might be able to develop novel ways to prevent hearing loss in people who are frequently exposed to loud noise. However, it might be some time before those advancements become a viable reality. But that doesn’t mean your ears can’t be protected.
So, you may be asking: how can I prevent noise-related hearing loss?
There are a number of approaches you may utilize to safeguard your ears:
- Use ear protection: If there are noisy settings you want to be in, or merely can’t avoid, ear plugs and ear muffs can help minimize the damage. If you attend that concert, for instance, wear a set of ear plugs to ensure you can still hear, but that your ears don’t become permanently damaged as a result.
- Regulate your exposure to loud sounds: This clearly includes noises such as jet engines, concerts, or sporting events. But there are some more commonplace noises that can cause hearing loss that may be surprising, including things like a leaf blower, traffic, or individuals speaking loudly in a busy office.
- Regularly check in with your hearing specialist: Getting a hearing test (and regularly checking in with us) can help identify damage early.
Protect your ears by understanding causes
Can noise-induced hearing loss be cured? Sadly no. Though you can successfully treat this type of hearing loss and any related tinnitus, it can’t be cured. 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 tailored to keep your hearing safe.
Although this research is encouraging, we still have a ways to go. But we appear to be getting closer to understanding. On a personal level, it’s essential to take steps to protect your hearing and check in with your hearing specialist.