The human body has some amazing and remarkable abilities. The human body generally has no difficulty healing cuts, scratches, 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 a splint and some time).
But you won’t be so fortunate if the fragile hairs in your ears are compromised. For now at least.
It’s truly regrettable that your body can accomplish such fantastic feats of healing but can’t restore these little hairs. What’s going on there?
When is Hearing Impairment Irreversible?
So, let’s get right down to it. 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 ask is whether the hearing will ever return. And the answer is… it depends.
Dramatically speaking, it’s a little anticlimactic.
But it’s also the truth. There are two basic types of hearing loss:
- Obstruction induced hearing loss: When there’s something obstructing your ear canal, you can show all the symptoms of hearing loss. A wide range of things, from something gross (earwax) to something frightening (a tumor), can be the cause of this blockage. Your hearing will go back to normal, thankfully, when the obstruction is removed.
- Hearing loss due to damage: But there’s another, more prevalent type of hearing loss. Known scientifically as sensorineural hearing loss, this type of hearing loss is effectively irreversible. Here’s what happens: 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 makes them into the sounds you perceive. But over time, loud noises 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 recover from, and you may need to get examined to see which one you have.
Hearing Loss Treatment
Scientists haven’t found a “cure” for sensorineural hearing loss but they’re working on it. But your hearing loss still may be manageable. In fact, getting the proper treatment for your hearing loss might help you:
- Maintain a high quality of life.
- Successfully manage hearing loss symptoms you may already have.
- Stay active socially, keeping isolation away.
- Prevent mental decline.
- Safeguard and maintain your remaining hearing.
Of the many forms of treatment available, which one is correct for you depends on the seriousness of your hearing loss. Hearing aids are one of the easiest and most common treatment options.
Why is Hearing Loss Effectively Managed With Hearing AIds?
You can return to the things and people you enjoy with the help of hearing aids. They can help you hear the discussions, your phone, your tv, or even just the sounds of nature. Hearing aids can also remove some of the pressure from your brain because you won’t be struggling to hear.
Prevention is The Best Protection
Loud sounds and other things that would damage your hearing should be avoided and your ears should be safeguarded against them. Your overall health and well being depend on good hearing. Regular hearing care, like annual hearing tests, is just another form of self-care.