The human body has some fantastic and remarkable abilities. Scrapes, cuts, and broken bones are normally no problem for the human body to heal (I mean, sure, it takes a while, but your body can literally repair the huge bones in your legs and arms with little more than a splint and some time).
But when it comes to restoring the delicate little hairs in your ear, it’s not going to happen. For now at least.
It’s truly unfortunate that your body can accomplish such great feats of healing but can’t regenerate these little hairs. So what’s the deal?
When is Hearing Loss Permanent?
So, let’s get right 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 the answer is… maybe.
Dramatically speaking, it’s a little anticlimactic.
But he’s not wrong. Hearing loss comes in two primary forms:
- Hearing impairment caused by an obstruction: When there’s something blocking your ear canal, you can show all the signs of hearing loss. A wide range of things, from something gross (earwax) to something frightening (a tumor), can be the cause of this obstruction. Your hearing will go back to normal, thankfully, when the blockage is cleared away.
- Hearing loss caused by damage: But there’s another, more common type of hearing loss. This kind of hearing loss, called sensorineural hearing loss, is permanent. Here’s what happens: there are delicate hairs in your ear that vibrate when struck by moving air (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 needed.
So the bottom line is this: there’s one type of hearing loss you can recover from, and you might need to get examined to see which one you’re dealing with.
Hearing Loss Treatment
So currently there’s no “cure” for sensorineural hearing loss (although scientists are working on it). But that doesn’t mean you can’t find treatment for your hearing loss. Here are a few ways that the correct treatment may help you:
- Ensure your total quality of life is untouched or remains high.
- Maintain and safeguard the hearing you still have.
- Successfully cope with any of the symptoms of hearing loss you might be experiencing.
- Help fend off mental decline.
- Remain engaged socially, keeping isolation at bay.
This treatment can take many forms, and it’ll usually depend on how significant your hearing loss is. One of the most common treatments is rather simple: hearing aids.
Why is Hearing Loss Successfully Managed With Hearing AIds?
Hearing aids can help you return to the people and things you enjoy. They can help you hear the discussions, the phone, your television, or even just the birds in the park. You won’t be straining to hear so pressure will be removed from your brain.
Prevention is The Best Protection
Loud noises and other things that would damage your hearing should be avoided and your ears should be safeguarded against them. Your general health and well being depend on strong hearing. Having routine hearing exams is the best way to be sure that you are safeguarding your hearing.
