The Recovery Capability of Your Body
The physical body normally has the ability to recover from cuts, scrapes, and fractured bones, although the healing process could vary in duration depending on the damage.
Unfortunately, there is no remedy for the delicate hair cells in your ears once they are damaged.
Up to this time, at least.
Animals can heal damage to the hair cells in their ears and get their hearing back, but human beings don’t have that ability (although scientists are tackling it).
That means you may have an irreversible loss of hearing if you damage the hearing nerve or those tiny hairs.
When is Hearing Loss Permanent?
The first thing you consider when you discover you have hearing loss is whether it will return.
It is uncertain if it will happen, as it is dependent on various factors.
Two principal types of hearing loss:
- Blockage-related hearing loss: If your ear canal is partly or entirely blocked, it can mimic the symptoms of hearing loss.
Earwax, debris, and abnormal growths can possibly block the ear canal.
The good news is, your hearing normally recovers once the obstruction is cleared away. - Hearing loss caused by damage: But there’s another, more prevalent kind of hearing loss that accounts for approximately 90 percent of hearing loss.
This distinct kind of hearing loss, referred to as sensorineural hearing loss in medical terms, is typically irreversible.
The hearing process is triggered by the impact of moving air on tiny hairs in the ear which transmit sound waves to the brain.
These vibrations are then transformed, by your brain, into signals that you hear as sound.
But your hearing can, over time, be permanently harmed by loud noises.
Sensorineural hearing loss can also be caused by damage to the inner ear or nerve.
In some cases of extreme hearing loss, a cochlear implant may have the ability to improve hearing function.
A hearing test can help in identifying if hearing aids would enhance your hearing ability.
Solutions for Improving Your Hearing
There is presently no cure for sensorineural hearing loss.
Treatment for your hearing loss might, however, be an option.
The following are a few ways that getting the correct treatment can help you:
- Maintain a good overall standard of living and well-being.
- Effectively manage any symptoms of hearing loss that you may be experiencing.
- Protect your remaining hearing to prevent added damage.
- Preserve relations and community participation to prevent feelings of loneliness and solitude.
- Prevent cognitive degeneration.
The kind of treatment you obtain for your hearing loss will differ depending on the severity of the problem.
A frequently encouraged and rather straightforward strategy is the use of hearing aids.
How is Hearing Loss Managed by Hearing Aids
Individuals going through hearing loss can use hearing aids to detect sounds which will allow them to function more effectively.
Tiredness happens when the brain needs to work harder to process sound.
Researchers have come to recognize that extended mental inactivity presents a significant danger to mental health, as new findings clarify the importance of continuous mental stimulation.
Hearing aids help you recover your cognitive function by allowing your ears to hear again.
In fact, using hearing aids has been shown to slow mental decline by as much as 75%.
Modern hearing devices enable you to concentrate on specific sounds you wish to hear while minimizing background noise.
The Best Defense is Prevention
Preserving your hearing is essential as once it’s lost, it’s often permanent. If an object becomes wedged in your ear canal, it can likely be safely removed.
However, this doesn’t reduce the risk posed by loud noises, which can be damaging even if they don’t seem overly loud to you.
That’s why making the effort to safeguard your ears is a smart idea.
The better you safeguard your hearing today, the more treatment potential you’ll have when and if you are eventually diagnosed with hearing loss.
Getting treatment can enable you to lead a fulfilling life, even if complete recovery is not achievable.
Consult with our professional audiologist to determine the most suitable solution for your unique hearing needs.