Ambassador for Life

Thanks to the work of scientists over a number of years there is evidence from lab animal results that a pill may be able to reduce the effects of loud noise to our hearing. Now the scientists are completing human trials of the new pill. It is hoped that after the substance is dissolved in a drink that the patient will perform better in a hearing test.

This is the latest developments in the on going search for a pill that could even treat hearing loss caused by loud noise. As scientists have got closer to their ultimate goal the efforts in recent years have been increased.

The intention is not to replace ear protection including ear plugs with this new pill. By being used in combination with the current protects available it is hoped that there will be a better chance of overcoming what still proves to be a continuing problem even with current protection.

Hearing loss as an occupational injury or illness has the second highest number of reported cases according to federal reports. Hearing loss from long term exposure or the noise from things like explosions affects 10 million Americans.

30 million Americans are said to be at risk from being exposed to dangerous noise levels working in occupations in the mining, agriculture, construction and manufacturing industries. Being a musician also means that your are at higher risk.

Hearing damage does not always happen whilst at work. Many hobbies including recreational riffle shooting, race car driving and snowmobiles also have a high risk of causing hearing loss. The sound canceling headphones and earplugs that people wear do help to some extent but they’re not really enough.

The protection can sometimes be ineffective for certain sounds. Many people don’t wear them as much as they should, even though they might be more susceptible to hearing loss than others. Sound can also penetrate the skull and cause damage to the ears that way, even if the protection is being worn.

There have been different approaches to the task of creating a hearing protecting pill in the past. Researchers in Israel reported in 1994 that military personnel, who received magnesium supplements as part of their diet, were able to avoid any damage to their hearing during their basic training. A lot of the focus in research today is on the use of antioxidants.

Scientists are now aware that a lot of the damage to out hearing is not directly caused by the forces exerted by loud noise. After exposure to loud noise the inner ear releases chemicals called free radicals that actually cause a lot of the hearing loss.

Antioxidants present naturally in the ear can neutralize free radicals. However, too much noise means that there are not enough antioxidants present. Free radicals eventually kill off the hair shaped receptor cells in the ear that convert sound waves to nerve signals that should be sent to the brain. As these cells cannot be replaced the hearing is then permanently damaged.

Building up the ear’s natural defenses by increasing the levels of antioxidants could prevent and may also treat hearing loss. The animal testing has shown promising results in preventing hearing loss. How effective the antioxidant method will be on humans is approached with caution by some experts. To determine the effectiveness of the antioxidants on humans, more animal tests are needed with varying sound levels and doses.