The Recovery Ability of Your Body
The human body typically has the ability to recuperate from cuts, scratches, and broken bones, although the healing process may differ in duration depending on the injury.
But you’re out of luck when it pertains to repairing the little hairs in your ears.
At least so far.
Animals can heal damage to the hair cells in their ears and get their hearing back, but humans don’t have that ability (though scientists are tackling it).
That means you may have an irreversible loss of hearing if you damage the hearing nerve or those little hairs.
When is Hearing Loss Irreversible?
The first thing you consider when you discover you have hearing loss is whether it will come back.
It is uncertain if it will happen, as it depends on numerous factors.
There are a couple of basic types of hearing loss:
- Obstruction-based hearing loss: When there’s something blocking your ear canal, you can experience all of the symptoms of hearing loss.
Debris, earwax, and tumors are some of the things that can cause an obstruction.
The good news is, your hearing usually bounces back when the obstruction is eliminated. - Damage-related hearing loss: A more common form of hearing impairment, responsible for roughly 90 percent of all instances, is triggered by damage instead of other variables.
Clinically known as sensorineural hearing loss, this form of hearing loss is often permanent.
The hearing process is triggered by the impact of moving air on tiny hairs in the ear which send sound waves to the brain.
Your brain changes these vibrations into auditory signals that are perceived by you as sound.
Prolonged exposure to loud noises can, however, lead to permanent damage to your hearing.
Damage to the inner ear or nerve can also cause sensorineural hearing loss.
A cochlear implant can help restore hearing in some instances of hearing loss, specifically in severe cases.
A hearing test will help you identify whether hearing aids will help strengthen your hearing.
Solutions for Enhancing Your Hearing
Sensorineural hearing loss presently can’t be cured.
Treatment for your hearing loss may, however, be a possibility.
Benefits of proper treatment for your well-being:
- Ensure your general quality of life is unaltered or remains high.
- Effectively manage any symptoms of hearing loss that you may be encountering.
- Maintain and safeguard the hearing you still have.
- Maintain connections and community participation to prevent feelings of loneliness and disconnection.
- Prevent mental decline.
The type of treatment you obtain for your hearing loss will differ depending on the extent of the problem.
A frequently encouraged and fairly straightforward solution is the use of hearing aids.
What Role do Hearing Aids Play in Dealing With Hearing Loss?
People who cope with hearing loss can use hearing aids to help them perceive sounds, allowing them to work as efficiently as they can.
Fatigue occurs when the brain needs to work overtime to process sound.
As scientists acquire more knowledge, they have identified a more significant threat of cognitive decline with a consistent lack of cognitive input.
Hearing aids help you restore your mental function by allowing your ears to hear again.
Research has revealed that using hearing aids can considerably slow cognitive decline, with some studies suggesting a reduction of up to 75%.
Cutting-edge hearing aids enable you to focus in on specific sounds you want to hear while minimizing background noise.
Prevention is The Best Defence
Preserving your hearing is crucial because once it’s gone, it’s often irretrievable. If an object becomes lodged in your ear canal, it can likely be safely cleared out.
However, this doesn’t diminish the risk posed by loud noises, which can be harmful even if they don’t seem excessively loud to you.
So taking steps to safeguard your hearing is a wise decision.
If you are ever diagnosed with hearing loss later in life, you will have more treatment options if you take measures to safeguard your hearing today.
Treatment can help you live a great, full life even if recovery isn’t a possibility.
To identify what your best choice is, schedule an appointment with our hearing care professionals.
