Scientists have discovered that blaring noises trigger a zinc overload in the inner ear, killing sensitive cells crucial for sensing sound. Their study findings point to drugs that can soak up that toxic zinc excess, offering hope for a future cure for noise-induced hearing loss.
No Universal Treatment Yet for Noise-Induced Hearing Loss
Noise-induced hearing loss has two forms: temporary threshold shift and permanent threshold shift. Temporary threshold shift, which manifests as ringing or muffled hearing after a loud concert, for instance, is reversible, Dr. Sreekant Cherukuri told The Epoch Times. Dr. Cherukuri, an ear, nose, and throat specialist and founder of ClearCast Hearing, a hearing-aid device, is not associated with the study.However, permanent threshold shift, which persistently impairs hearing, can occur after exposure to sudden loud noises such as gunfire or prolonged noise such as construction or workplace noise.
