The human body has some fantastic and remarkable abilities. Scratches, cuts, and broken bones are normally no problem for the human body to heal (with a bit of time, your body can heal the giant bones in your legs and arms).
But when it comes to restoring the fragile little hairs in your ear, you’re out of luck. For now at least.
It’s really regrettable that your body can accomplish such amazing feats of healing but can’t restore these tiny hairs. So what’s the deal?
When is Hearing Loss Permanent?
So let’s take a closer look. You’re at your doctor’s office attempting to process the news he’s giving you: you’re losing your hearing. So the first question you have is whether the hearing will ever come back. And he informs you that it might or it might not.
It’s a bit anticlimactic, speaking dramatically.
But he’s not wrong. Hearing loss comes in two primary forms:
- Hearing loss caused by a blockage: You can exhibit every sign of hearing loss when your ear has some sort of obstruction. This blockage can be caused by a number of things, from the gross (ear wax) to the downright scary (tumors). Your hearing will go back to normal, thankfully, when the blockage is removed.
- Hearing loss due to damage: But there’s another, more prevalent type of hearing loss. This form of hearing loss, called sensorineural hearing loss, is irreversible. This is how it works: In your ear, there are little hairs that vibrate when struck by sound waves. When vibrations are converted into signals, they are sent to the brain which renders them into the sounds you perceive. But loud noises can cause damage to the hairs and, over time, diminish your hearing to the point where you need treatment.
So here’s the main point: there’s one type of hearing loss you can recuperate from, and you might need to get examined to see which one you have.
Treating Hearing Loss
So currently there’s no “cure” for sensorineural hearing loss (though scientists are working on it). But your hearing loss still might be treatable. Here are some ways that the right treatment might help you:
- Avoid isolation by staying socially involved.
- Successfully manage hearing loss symptoms you might already have.
- Counter cognitive decline.
- Maintain and protect the hearing you have left.
- Make sure your overall quality of life is unaffected or remains high.
Of the many types of treatment available, which one is right for you depends on the seriousness of your hearing loss. One of the most prevalent treatments is fairly simple: hearing aids.
Why Are Hearing Aids a Good Treatment For Hearing Loss?
You can get back to the people and things you enjoy with the help of hearing aids. With the help of hearing aids, you can begin to hear conversations, your tv, your phone, and sounds of nature once more. You will no longer be straining to hear so pressure will be removed from your brain.
The Best Protection is Prevention
Loud noises and other things that would damage your hearing should be avoided and your ears should be safeguarded against them. Hearing well is critical to your overall health and well-being. Having regular hearing exams is the best way to be sure that you are safeguarding your hearing.