Can Hearing Loss Be Cured?

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

How Your Body Recovers From Injury and Illness

The human body can generally heal scrapes, cuts, and broken bones, although some injuries take longer than others.
But you’re out of luck when it comes to restoring the tiny little hairs in your ears.
Up to this point, at least.
Animals have the capability to regenerate damaged cilia in their ears, restoring their hearing, a characteristic that scientists are currently attempting to reproduce in humans.
That means you could have a permanent loss of hearing if you damage the hearing nerve or those little hairs.

At What Point Does Hearing Loss Become Irreversible?

Upon discovering hearing loss, the initial worry that often emerges is whether the hearing will be recovered.
It is unclear if it will happen, as it is dependent on numerous variables.

Two principal forms of hearing loss:

  • Blockage-related hearing loss: If your ear canal is partially or completely obstructed, it can mimic the symptoms of hearing loss.
    Debris, earwax, and growths are some of the things that can cause a blockage.
    The good news is, your hearing usually recovers when the blockage is eliminated.
  • Damage-related hearing loss: A more prevalent type of hearing impairment, responsible for around 90 percent of all cases, is triggered by damage rather than other variables.
    Known clinically as sensorineural hearing loss, this type of hearing loss is often permanent.
    Here’s how it works: tiny hairs in your ear vibrate when struck with moving air (sound waves).
    These vibrations are then modified, by your brain, into signals that you perceive as sound.
    But your hearing can, over time, be permanently harmed by loud noises.
    Sensorineural hearing loss can also be triggered by injury to the inner ear or nerve.
    In certain cases of severe hearing loss, a cochlear implant might be able to enhance hearing function.

A hearing exam can assist in determining if hearing aids would improve your ability to hear.

Treatment of Hearing Loss

Sensorineural hearing loss currently has no cure.
Treatment for your hearing loss may, however, be a possibility.
Benefits of correct treatment for your well-being:

  • Ensure your overall quality of life is unaltered or remains high.
  • Successfully manage any of the symptoms of hearing loss you may be dealing with.
  • Protect your remaining hearing to prevent added damage.
  • Keep solitude away by continuing to be socially engaged.
  • Prevent mental deterioration.

The form of treatment you obtain for your hearing loss will differ depending on the extent of the problem.
One of the most common treatment options is rather simple: hearing aids.

How is Hearing Loss Treated by Hearing Aids

Individuals going through hearing loss can make use of hearing aids to detect sounds which will allow them to function more effectively.
Fatigue happens when the brain has to work harder to process sound.
Researchers have come to recognize that extended mental inactivity presents a substantial danger to cognitive health, as new findings shed light on the importance of ongoing mental stimulation.
Hearing aids help you recover your mental function by allowing your ears to hear again.
As a matter of fact, utilizing hearing aids has been shown to slow down cognitive decline by as much as 75%.
Modern hearing devices enable you to focus in on specific sounds you want to hear while minimizing background noise.

The Best Protection is Prevention

Maintaining your hearing is crucial because once it’s gone, it’s usually irretrievable. If an object becomes wedged in your ear canal, it can likely be safely cleared out.
However, this doesn’t reduce the danger posed by high-volume noises, which can be damaging even if they don’t seem overly loud to you.
So taking measures to protect your hearing is a good plan.
The better you safeguard your hearing now, the more treatment potential you’ll have when and if you are eventually diagnosed with hearing loss.
Receiving treatment can allow you to live a fulfilling life, even if complete recovery is not achievable.
Speak with our professional audiologist to discover the most suitable solution for your unique hearing requirements.

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.