The human body has some amazing and remarkable abilities. Scratches, cuts, and broken bones are generally no problem for the human body to repair (I mean, sure, it takes some time, but your body can literally repair the huge bones in your arms and legs with little more than a splint and some time).
But you won’t be so lucky if the fragile hairs in your ears are damaged. For now anyway.
It doesn’t seem really fair when you can recover from major bone injuries but you have problems repairing tiny hairs in your ear. So what’s the deal?
When is Hearing Loss Irreversible?
So let’s have a closer look. You’re waiting in your doctor’s office and you’re digesting the news: you have hearing loss. So the first question you have is whether the hearing will ever return. And he tells you that it might or it might not.
It’s a little anticlimactic, speaking dramatically.
But it’s also the truth. Hearing loss comes in two primary forms:
- Damage induced hearing loss: But there’s another, more prevalent form of hearing loss. Known scientifically as sensorineural hearing loss, this form of hearing loss is effectively permanent. Here’s what happens: In your ear, there are tiny hairs that vibrate when moved by sound waves. Your brain is good at turning these vibrations into the sounds you hear. But over time, loud noises can cause these hairs to be damaged to the point where treatment is necessary.
- Hearing impairment caused by an obstruction: When there’s something obstructing your ear canal, you can exhibit all the signs of hearing loss. This obstruction 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 obstruction is removed.
So here’s the main point: you can recover from one type of hearing loss and you probably won’t know which one you have without having a hearing test.
Hearing Loss Treatment
Scientists haven’t found a “cure” for sensorineural hearing loss but they’re working on it. But that’s not to say you can’t find treatment for your hearing loss. Here are a few ways that the correct treatment might help you:
- Successfully manage hearing loss symptoms you may already have.
- Safeguard and maintain your remaining hearing.
- Maintain a high quality of life.
- Counter cognitive decline.
- Remain engaged socially, keeping isolation away.
This treatment can take numerous forms, and it’ll usually depend on how significant your hearing loss is. Hearing aids are one of the simplest and most prevalent treatment options.
Why Are Hearing Aids a Good Treatment For Hearing Loss?
You can get back to the people and things you love with the assistance of hearing aids. They can help you hear the conversation, your phone, your television, or even just the sounds of nature. Hearing aids can also remove some of the pressure from your brain because you won’t be straining to hear.
Prevention is The Best Protection
Loud noises and other things that would harm your hearing should be avoided and your ears should be protected against them. Hearing well is essential to your overall health and well-being. Having regular hearing exams is the best way to be sure that you are protecting your hearing.