How Your Body Bounces Back From Injury and Illness
The human body can usually repair scrapes, cuts, and broken bones, although some injuries take longer than others.
Sadly, there is no cure for the fragile hair cells in your ears once they are damaged.
At least thus far.
Animals can repair damage to the cilia in their ears and get their hearing back, but humans don’t possess that ability (though scientists are working on it).
That means you could have a permanent loss of hearing if you damage the hearing nerve or those tiny hairs.
When is Hearing Loss Irreversible?
Upon discovering hearing loss, the preliminary concern that usually arises is whether the hearing will be restored.
It is uncertain if it will happen, as it depends on numerous elements.
Two primary kinds of hearing loss:
- Obstruction-based loss of hearing: When there’s something blocking your ear canal, you can experience all the symptoms of hearing loss.
Earwax, debris, and abnormal growths can possibly obstruct the ear canal.
Your hearing typically returns to normal after the blockage is cleared, and that’s the good news. - Hearing loss due to damage: But there’s another, more widespread type of hearing loss that makes up around 90 percent of hearing loss.
This distinct type of hearing loss, known as sensorineural hearing loss in scientific terms, is typically permanent.
The hearing process is activated by the impact of moving air on tiny hairs in the ear which transmit sound waves to the brain.
Your brain changes these vibrations into auditory signals that are heard by you as sound.
But your hearing can, over time, be permanently harmed by loud noises.
Sensorineural hearing loss can also be caused by injury to the inner ear or nerve.
A cochlear implant can help restore hearing in some cases of hearing loss, specifically in severe cases.
A hearing examination will help you determine whether hearing aids will help improve your hearing.
Treatment of Hearing Loss
There is presently no cure for sensorineural hearing loss.
Treatment for your hearing loss might, however, be a possibility.
Benefits of proper treatment for your well-being:
- Ensure your general quality of life is unaltered or remains high.
- Successfully manage any of the symptoms of hearing loss you may be dealing with.
- Protect your remaining hearing to avoid additional damage.
- Keep solitude away by remaining socially engaged.
- Prevent mental decline.
This treatment can take many forms, and it’ll generally be dependent on how severe your hearing loss is.
A frequently recommended and rather straightforward strategy is the use of hearing aids.
How is Hearing Loss Treated by Hearing Aids
Individuals who have hearing loss can use hearing aids to help them perceive sounds, allowing them to work as effectively as possible.
Tiredness occurs when the brain needs to work overtime to process sound.
As researchers acquire more insights, they have identified a greater threat of mental decline with a persistent lack of cognitive stimulation.
Hearing aids help you restore your cognitive function by allowing your ears to hear again.
Research has revealed that wearing hearing aids can considerably delay cognitive impairment, with some studies indicating a decrease of up to 75%.
Cutting-edge hearing devices allow you to focus in on particular sounds you want to hear while reducing background noise.
Prevention is The Best Protection
Preserving your hearing is crucial because once it’s gone, it’s usually irretrievable. If an object becomes wedged in your ear canal, it can likely be safely removed.
However, this doesn’t reduce the risk posed by loud noises, which can be harmful even if they don’t seem excessively loud to you.
So taking steps to protect your hearing is a wise decision.
The better you protect your hearing now, the more treatment potential you’ll have when and if you are eventually diagnosed with hearing loss.
Treatment can help you live a wonderful, full life even if recovery isn’t possible.
Consult with our professional audiologist to determine the most suitable solution for your specific hearing needs.