The human body has some amazing and surprising abilities. Scratches, cuts, and broken bones are generally no problem for the human body to mend (I mean, sure, it takes some time, but your body can literally mend the huge bones in your arms and legs with little more than some time and a splint).
But when it comes to repairing the fragile little hairs in your ear, you’re out of luck. At least, so far.
It doesn’t seem exactly fair when you can heal from considerable bone injuries but you have problems repairing 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 sitting in your doctor’s office and you’re absorbing the news: you have hearing loss. So you ask your doctor if your hearing will ever return. And the answer is… maybe.
It’s a little anticlimactic, speaking dramatically.
But it’s also a fact. There are two primary forms of hearing loss:
- Hearing loss caused by an obstruction: When there’s something blocking your ear canal, you can present all the indications of hearing loss. This obstruction can be caused by a wide variety of things, from the gross (ear wax) to the downright scary (tumors). The good news is that once the blockage is cleared, your hearing often goes back to normal.
- Damage related hearing loss: But there’s another, more common type of hearing loss. This kind of hearing loss, called sensorineural hearing loss, is irreversible. Here’s what happens: there are tiny hairs in your ear that vibrate when struck by moving air (sound waves). Your brain is good at changing these vibrations into the sounds you hear. But loud noises can cause damage to the hairs and, over time, diminish your hearing to the point where you need treatment.
So here’s the main point: there’s one type of hearing loss you can recuperate from, and you may need to get examined to see which one you have.
Treating Hearing Loss
Scientists haven’t discovered a “cure” for sensorineural hearing loss but they’re working on it. But your hearing loss still might be manageable. Here are a few ways that the correct treatment may help you:
- Help fend off mental decline.
- Preserve and protect the hearing you still have.
- Maintain a high quality of life.
- Successfully manage hearing loss symptoms you may already have.
- Avoid isolation by staying socially active.
This treatment can take many forms, and it’ll usually depend on how significant your hearing loss is. One of the most prevalent treatments is rather simple: hearing aids.
Why Are Hearing Aids a Smart Treatment For Hearing Loss?
Hearing aids can help you get back to the people and things you enjoy. With the help of hearing aids, you can start to hear conversations, your tv, your phone, and sounds of nature once more. You will no longer be struggling to hear so pressure will be removed from your brain.
Prevention is The Best Protection
Loud noises and other things that would harm your hearing should be avoided and your ears should be safeguarded against them. Your general health and well being depend on good hearing. Routine hearing care, like annual hearing exams, is just another form of self-care.