Will My Hearing Return?

Woman with hearing loss wondering if her hearing will come back on its own.

Your Body’s Ability to Recover

The human body generally can heal scrapes, cuts, and broken bones, although some injuries take longer than others. But when it comes to repairing the tiny little hairs in your ear, you’re out of luck. At least, so far. Even though scientists are working on it, humans can’t heal the cilia in their ears in the same way animals can. That means you may have permanent hearing loss if you injure the hearing nerve or those little hairs.

At What Point Does Hearing Loss Become Irreversible?

The first question you think of when you find out you have loss of hearing is, will it come back? And the answer is, it depends. Fundamentally, there are two types of hearing loss:

  • Damage based loss of hearing: But about 90 percent of hearing loss is accounted for by another, more prevalent cause. This kind of hearing loss, which is often permanent, is known as sensorineural hearing loss. This is how it works: When hit by moving air (sound waves), tiny little hairs in your ears move. Your brain is good at turning these vibrations into the sounds you can hear. But your hearing can, as time passes, be permanently damaged by loud noises. Sensorineural hearing loss can also be caused by injury to the nerve or to the inner ear. In some cases, especially in instances of extreme hearing loss, a cochlear implant might help return hearing.
  • Blockage based loss of hearing: When there’s something obstructing your ear canal, you can show all the symptoms of hearing loss. This blockage can be caused by a wide range of things, from debris to earwax to tumors. Your hearing normally returns to normal after the obstruction is cleared, and that’s the good news.

Whether hearing aids will help improve your hearing can only be figured out by getting a hearing examination.

Hearing Loss Treatment

So currently there’s no cure for sensorineural hearing loss. But that’s doesn’t mean you can’t find treatment for your loss of hearing. actually, getting the proper treatment for your loss of hearing can help you:

  • Guarantee your overall quality of life remains high or is unaffected.
  • Prevent cognitive decline.
  • Cope successfully with the symptoms of hearing loss you may be suffering from.
  • Keep isolation away by staying socially engaged.
  • Preserve and protect the hearing you have left.

Based on how severe your hearing loss is, this procedure can take on many kinds. One of the most common treatment options is pretty simple: hearing aids.

How is Hearing Loss Treated by Hearing Aids

People who have hearing loss can use hearing aids to perceive sounds and work as effectively as they can. When your hearing is hindered, the brain strains to hear, which can fatigue you. Over time the lack of sensory input has been connected with a greater risk of mental decline. Your mental function can start to be restored by using hearing aids because they allow your ears hear again. In fact, using hearing aids has been shown to slow cognitive decline by as much as 75%. Modern day hearing aids can also help you pay attention to what you want to hear, and tune out background sounds.

The Best Defense Is Prevention

If you get one thing from this little lesson, hopefully, it’s this: you can’t count on recovering from loss of hearing, so instead you should focus on safeguarding the hearing you have. Certainly, you can have any obstruction in your ear cleared. But lots of loud noises are harmful even though you may not think they are that loud. That’s the reason why taking the time to safeguard your ears is a good idea. If you are inevitably diagnosed with hearing loss, you will have more treatment possibilities if you take measures today to protect your hearing. Recovery likely won’t be a possibility but treatment can help you keep living a great, full life. Contact a hearing care expert to decide what your best choice is.

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.