Management of Sensorineural Hearing Loss in Adults: Consideration of Lifestyle Practices from a Mitochondrial...

The physiological processes of sensorineural hearing in the cochlea have high energy demands. As energy is provided mainly by mitochondria housed in cochlear cells, mitochondrial dysfunction can possibly lead to sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). Consequently, hearing benefits can potentially be derived if measures that can potentially enhance mitochondrial health are implemented. Unhealthy lifestyle practices have led to an increased risk of developing systemic oxidative stress and chronic inflammation. These, in turn, may result in persistent mitochondrial dysfunction in the body. Together, they could possibly lead to the development of SNHL and other non-communicable chronic diseases (NCDs). Factors such as micro-nutrient deficiencies, obstructive sleep apnea, and gut dysfunction could result in mitochondrial dysfunction. On the other hand, mitochondrial function could be enhanced by interventions such as better food choices and hormetic strategies like intermittent fasting. Conventional treatments of SNHL focus on steroid therapy in acute loss and hearing rehabilitation with hearing devices in chronic loss. By integrating personalized healthy lifestyle strategies, it is postulated that the chances of hearing recovery in acute SNHL could be enhanced in some patients. In chronic SNHL, they could help to prevent/slow down its progression and possibly also the progression of concomitant NCDs. Further research is warranted to substantiate these postulations.