Know All About Alka Yagnik's Rare Hearing Loss Diagnosis

Bollywood's beloved playback singer, Alka Yagnik, has recently revealed that she is battling a rare form of sensory neural hearing loss. The diagnosis, attributed to a viral attack, was shared by Yagnik on her social media, where she expressed her shock and concern over the sudden health setback.

Yagnik’s condition, identified as sudden sensory neural hearing loss (SSNHL), is an uncommon and rapid loss of hearing. This typically occurs in one ear and can develop overnight or within a few days. Symptoms often include a sudden inability to hear, a “pop” sound in the ear, tinnitus, ear fullness, dizziness, and sometimes vertigo.

What is sudden sensory neural hearing loss?

SSNHL is a rare type of hearing loss that strikes swiftly. While most cases of hearing loss develop gradually, the sudden onset makes SSNHL particularly alarming and difficult to diagnose promptly. Misdiagnosis is frequent, leading to underreporting, and the specific viral causes of SSNHL are not as common as other factors leading to hearing impairment.

Causes and triggers

In Yagnik’s case, a viral infection is the suspected cause. Several viruses, including herpes simplex, measles, mumps, and varicella-zoster, can damage the cochlea or auditory nerve, leading to SSNHL. These infections trigger an immune response that can result in inflammation and damage to the inner ear structures.

Choices of treatment 

Treating SSNHL, especially when caused by a viral infection, usually involves administering high-dose corticosteroids. These can be taken orally or through intratympanic injections to reduce inflammation and swelling in the inner ear. While antiviral medications might be considered if a viral infection is suspected, their effectiveness remains uncertain and they are not standardly recommended.

For individuals experiencing significant and permanent hearing loss, hearing aids or cochlear implants may be recommended to restore some degree of auditory function.

Alka Yagnik’s public disclosure sheds light on this rare condition, underscoring the importance of early detection and treatment to mitigate long-term hearing damage.