“Once it’s lost, it doesn’t come back”: how to protect your ears so you don’t lose your hearing

Ohio, United States. Hearing loss is a problem that, unlike other bodily damage, cannot be reversed. Specialists warn that frequent exposure to loud noises and the improper use of headphones are causing more and more adolescents and even children to show early signs of hearing impairment.

Audiologist Valerie Pavlovich Ruff, a specialist at the Cleveland Clinic, explained that the cells responsible for capturing sounds do not have the ability to regenerate once they are damaged, which is why prevention is the best tool for maintaining hearing health.

Experts point out that many people neglect the care of their ears during their youth, without considering that the effects of that noise exposure accumulate over the years and can manifest in adulthood as permanent hearing loss.

The hearing process occurs in the cochlea, a structure located in the inner ear that houses thousands of tiny hair cells. These transform sound vibrations into electrical impulses that travel to the brain, where they are interpreted.

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However, when a person remains exposed for long periods to high-intensity sounds, those cells can bend or be destroyed permanently. Since they do not regenerate naturally, the damage caused is irreversible and can affect the ability to hear normally.

Given this situation, specialists recommend maintaining a moderate volume when using headphones, limiting exposure time to loud noises, and using hearing protection during concerts, mass events, or activities that generate high noise levels.