The human body has some fantastic and surprising abilities. The human body generally has no problem mending cuts, scrapes, or broken bones (with a bit of time, your body can repair the giant bones in your legs and arms).
But when it comes to mending the tiny little hairs in your ear, it’s not going to happen. For now at least.
It’s truly regrettable that your body can pull off such great feats of healing but can’t ever re-grow these little hairs. What’s happening there?
When is Hearing Loss 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 impairment. So you ask your doctor if your hearing will ever come back. And the answer is… maybe.
It’s a bit anticlimactic, speaking dramatically.
But it’s also a fact. There are two general forms of hearing loss:
- Damage related hearing loss: But there’s another, more common type of hearing loss. Known scientifically as sensorineural hearing loss, this form of hearing loss is effectively irreversible. This is how it works: inside of your ear, there are little hairs that vibrate when moved by sound waves. When vibrations are transformed into signals, they are transmitted to the brain which renders 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.
- Hearing impairment caused by a blockage: You can show every indicator of hearing loss when your ear has some sort of obstruction. This blockage can be caused by a wide range of things, from the gross (ear wax) to the downright scary (tumors). Fortunately, once the obstruction is cleared, your hearing often returns to normal.
So the bottom line is this: there’s one form of hearing loss you can recover 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 that’s not to say you can’t find treatment for your hearing loss. As a matter of fact, getting the correct treatment for your hearing loss may help you:
- Stay engaged socially, keeping isolation at bay.
- Protect and maintain your remaining hearing.
- Make sure your overall quality of life is untouched or stays high.
- Counter cognitive decline.
- Cope successfully with any of the symptoms of hearing loss you may be experiencing.
Of the many forms of treatment available, which one is right for you depends on the extent of your hearing loss. Hearing aids are one of the easiest and most common treatment choices.
Why is Hearing Loss Effectively Treated With Hearing AIds?
You can return to the things and people you love with the help of hearing aids. With the help of hearing aids, you can begin to hear conversations, your television, your phone, and sounds of nature once again. You will no longer be straining to hear so pressure will be taken off your brain.
The Best Protection is Prevention
Loud sounds and other things that would harm your hearing should be avoided and your ears should be safeguarded against them. Hearing well is critical to your overall health and well-being. Regular hearing care, such as annual hearing exams, is just another type of self-care.