The Recovery Capability of Your Body
The human body usually can heal scratches, cuts, and broken bones, even though some wounds take longer than others. But when it comes to repairing the tiny little hairs in your ear, you’re out of luck. So far, at least. Although scientists are working on it, humans can’t heal the cilia in their ears like animals can. That means you could have irreversible hearing loss if you damage the hearing nerve or those little hairs.
When Is Loss of Hearing Permanent?
The first thing you think of when you find out you have loss of hearing is, will it come back? Whether it will or not depends on a number of factors. Basically, there are two kinds of hearing loss:
- Blockage based hearing loss: You can exhibit all the signs of hearing loss when there is something blocking your ear canal. This obstruction can be caused by a wide variety of things, from debris to earwax to tumors. The good news is that once the obstruction is cleared your hearing usually goes back to normal.
- Loss of hearing caused by damage: But there’s another, more common kind of hearing loss that makes up around 90 percent of hearing loss. Known technically as sensorineural hearing loss, this kind of hearing loss is usually permanent. Here’s what occurs: When hit by moving air (sound waves), tiny little hairs in your ears vibrate. These vibrations are then turned, by your brain, into impulses that you hear as sound. But loud sounds can cause damage to the hairs and, over time, permanently diminish your hearing. Sensorineural hearing loss can also be caused by damage to the nerve or to the inner ear. In some cases, especially in instances of extreme loss of hearing, a cochlear implant could help improve hearing.
A hearing exam can help you figure out whether hearing aids will help improve your hearing.
Hearing Loss Treatment
Sensorineural hearing loss currently has no cure. But that’s doesn’t mean you can’t find treatment for your loss of hearing. The following are some ways that getting the right treatment can help you:
- Make sure your overall quality of life is unaffected or remains high.
- Preserve and protect the hearing you have left.
- Successfully deal with the symptoms of hearing loss you might be experiencing.
- Keep isolation away by staying socially engaged.
- Prevent mental decline.
This approach can have many forms, and it’ll usually depend on how extreme your loss of hearing is. One of the most common treatments is pretty simple: hearing aids.
How is Hearing Loss Treated by Hearing Aids
Hearing aids help the ear with hearing loss to hear sounds and function the best they can. When your hearing is hindered, the brain struggles to hear, which can fatigue you. As scientist acquire more insights, they have recognized a greater chance of mental decline with a persistent lack of cognitive input. By allowing your ears to hear again, hearing aids help you restore mental performance. as a matter of fact, it has been shown that wearing hearing aids can slow cognitive decline by as much as 75%. Contemporary hearing aids will also allow you to focus on what you want to hear, and drown out background sounds.
The Best Protection Is Prevention
Hopefully, if you get one thing from this knowledge, it this: you should safeguard the hearing you’ve got because you can’t depend on recovering from hearing loss. Certainly, if you get something blocking your ear canal, more than likely you can have it removed. But many loud noises are hazardous even though you might not think they are very loud. That’s the reason why making the effort to protect your ears is a good plan. The better you safeguard your hearing now, the more treatment options you’ll have if and when you are eventually diagnosed with hearing loss. Treatment can help you live a great, full life even if recovery isn’t an option. To find out what your best choice is, make an appointment with a hearing care professional.