Can Hearing Loss Be Reversed?

Older man staring out of the window wondering is his hearing will come back

How Your Body Recovers From Injury and Sickness

The physical body usually has the ability to recuperate from cuts, scratches, and broken bones, although the recovery process could vary in duration depending on the damage.
But you’re out of luck when it comes to restoring the little hairs in your ears.
At least thus far.
Animals have the capability to regenerate damaged cilia in their ears, restoring their hearing, a characteristic that scientists are currently making an effort to reproduce in people.
That means you might have a permanent loss of hearing if you damage the hearing nerve or those tiny hairs.

When is Hearing Loss Irreversible?

The first thing you think of when you learn you have hearing loss is whether it will return.
It is uncertain if it will happen, as it is dependent on various variables.

Two primary kinds of hearing loss:

  • Obstruction-based loss of hearing: When there’s something obstructing your ear canal, you can experience all of the symptoms of hearing loss.
    Debris, earwax, and growths are a few of the things that can cause a blockage.
    Your hearing generally goes back to normal after the blockage is cleared, and that’s the good news.
  • Hearing loss due to damage: But there’s another, more prevalent kind of hearing loss that represents approximately 90 percent of hearing loss.
    Clinically known as sensorineural hearing loss, this kind of hearing loss is often irreversible.
    Here’s how it works: tiny hairs in your ear move when hit with moving air (sound waves).
    Your brain transforms these vibrations into auditory signals that are heard by you as sound.
    Prolonged exposure to loud noises can, however, lead to permanent damage to your hearing.
    Sensorineural hearing loss can also be caused by harm to the inner ear or nerve.
    A cochlear implant can help reestablish hearing in some instances of hearing loss, particularly in severe cases.

A hearing assessment can assist in determining if hearing aids would enhance your hearing ability.

Solutions for Improving Your Hearing

Sensorineural hearing loss presently has no cure.
Treatment for your hearing loss may, however, be an option.
The following are some ways that obtaining the correct treatment can help you:

  • Ensure your general quality of life is unaffected or remains high.
  • Successfully manage any symptoms of hearing loss that you may be encountering.
  • Protect your remaining hearing to avoid further damage.
  • Preserve connections and community participation to avoid feelings of isolation and disconnection.
  • Prevent mental degeneration.

This treatment can take many forms, and it’ll typically depend on how severe your hearing loss is.
A frequently recommended and relatively straightforward strategy is the use of hearing aids.

What Role do Hearing Aids Play in Managing Hearing Loss?

Individuals going through hearing loss can use hearing aids to detect sounds which will allow them to function more effectively.
Fatigue is the result when the brain strains to hear.
Scientists have come to recognize that prolonged mental inactivity poses a considerable danger to mental health, as new discoveries clarify the value of ongoing mental stimulation.
Hearing aids help you restore your cognitive function by allowing your ears to hear once more.
In fact, utilizing hearing aids has been shown to slow mental decline by as much as 75%.
Modern hearing aids will also allow you to pay attention to what you want to hear while tuning out background sounds.

The Best Protection is Prevention

Maintaining your hearing is crucial as once it’s gone, it’s often permanent. Certainly, if you get something lodged in your ear canal, you can probably have it cleared.
However, this doesn’t reduce the risk posed by loud sounds, which can be damaging even if they don’t seem excessively loud to you.
So taking steps to protect your hearing is a good plan.
If you are ever diagnosed with hearing loss later in life, you will have more treatment options if you take steps to safeguard your hearing today.
Getting treatment can allow you to live a fulfilling life, even if complete recovery is not achievable.
To determine what your best choice is, make an appointment with our hearing care specialist.

The site information is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. To receive personalized advice or treatment, schedule an appointment.

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