The human body is an awesome, beautiful, confusing, confounding construction, isn’t it? The human body generally has no issue healing cuts, scrapes, or broken bones (I mean, sure, it takes a while, but your body can literally repair the giant bones in your legs and arms with little more than some time and a splint).
But you won’t be so lucky if the fragile hairs in your ears are compromised. At least, so far.
It doesn’t seem quite fair when you can heal from considerable bone injuries but you can’t heal tiny hairs in your ear. So what’s the deal?
When is Hearing Impairment Permanent?
So, let’s get right down to it. You’re at your doctor’s office attempting to digest the news he’s giving you: you have hearing loss. So you ask your doctor if your hearing will ever return. And he informs you that it may or may not.
It’s a little anticlimactic, speaking dramatically.
But it’s also a fact. Hearing loss comes in two primary forms:
- Obstruction induced hearing loss: 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). Fortunately, once the obstruction is cleared, your hearing usually returns to normal.
- Damage related hearing loss: But there’s another, more common form of hearing loss. Known scientifically as sensorineural hearing loss, this form of hearing loss is effectively irreversible. Here’s what happens: there are little hairs in your ear that vibrate when hit with moving air (sound waves). Your brain is good at turning these vibrations into the sounds you hear. But over time, loud sounds can cause these hairs to be damaged to the point where treatment is required.
So here’s the main point: there’s one type of hearing loss you can recuperate from, and you might need to get tested to see which one you’re dealing with.
Treating Hearing Loss
So presently there’s no “cure” for sensorineural hearing loss (although scientists are working on it). But your hearing loss still may be manageable. In fact, getting the proper treatment for your hearing loss may help you:
- Maintain and safeguard the hearing you have left.
- Preserve a high quality of life.
- Successfully manage hearing loss symptoms you may already have.
- Help stave off cognitive decline.
- Remain engaged socially, keeping isolation away.
This treatment can take numerous forms, and it’ll normally depend on how severe your hearing loss is. One of the most common treatments is rather simple: hearing aids.
Why Are Hearing Aids a Smart Treatment For Hearing Loss?
You can get back to the things and people you enjoy with the assistance of hearing aids. With the help of hearing aids, you can begin to hear conversations, your tv, your phone, and sounds of nature once again. You will no longer be struggling to hear so pressure will be taken off your brain.
Prevention is The Best Protection
Whether you have hearing loss now or not, you should protect your hearing from loud noises and other things that can damage your hearing (like ototoxic drugs). Your general health and well being depend on strong hearing. Having regular hearing exams is the best way to be sure that you are protecting your hearing.
