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Playback singer Alka Yagnik reveals her struggle with sensorineural hearing loss, urging fans to be cautious of loud music and headphone use.
Key Points
- Alka Yagnik reveals her battle with sensorineural hearing loss.
- SNHL is caused by damage to the auditory nerve or inner ear cells.
- Treatment involves steroid injections and possibly cochlear implant surgery.
- Loud music and prolonged headphone use can lead to hearing loss.
- Protecting hearing health involves reducing exposure to loud sounds and using ear protection.
Renowned playback singer Alka Yagnik recently shared her battle with a rare condition called sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL), which she developed following a viral attack. In an Instagram post dated June 18, Yagnik revealed her diagnosis and warned fans about the potential dangers of loud music and prolonged headphone use.
Yagnik described her experience, saying, “A few weeks ago, as I walked out of a flight, I suddenly felt I was not able to hear anything. It has been diagnosed by my doctors as a rare sensorineural nerve hearing loss due to a viral attack. This sudden, major setback has caught me completely unaware. Please keep me in your prayers.”
Alka Yagnik is celebrated for her versatile singing career in the 1990s, during which she lent her voice to thousands of songs in various languages. She has received two National Film Awards and seven Filmfare Awards. In 2022, she was recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as the most-streamed artist globally.
Understanding Sensorineural Hearing Loss
Yagnik’s case brings attention to the risks of loud music and the frequent use of headphones. Sensorineural hearing loss, or SNHL, is a type of hearing impairment caused by damage to the auditory nerve or the hair cells of the inner ear. Unlike conductive hearing loss, which is related to the eardrum, SNHL is associated with the inner ear, the cochlea, or nerve cells.
Dr. Ameet Kishore, an ENT and cochlear implant surgeon, explains, “The inner part of our ear contains tiny hair cells that change sounds into electric signals. SNHL occurs due to damage to these inner ear cells or the nerve endings. Sometimes, it’s due to damage to the nerve carrying signals to the brain.”
Dr. E.V. Raman, an ENT surgeon at Manipal Hospital in Bengaluru, adds, “Sudden sensorineural hearing loss can occur rapidly within a few minutes to three days. Almost 90% of these cases do not have an identifiable cause and are often presumed to be due to a virus or decreased blood supply.”
Treatment for SNHL
Dr. Kishore emphasizes that SNHL is a medical emergency, requiring prompt treatment similar to a heart attack. Treatment often involves steroid injections to reduce swelling in the eardrum. Dr. Lav B. Selarka, an ENT specialist, notes, “SNHL can be treated with steroids combined with antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and antiplatelet medications. In severe cases, cochlear implant surgery may be necessary.”
Risks of Loud Music and Headphones
Prolonged exposure to loud sounds can damage the auditory nerve and inner ear hair cells, leading to hearing loss. In her post, Yagnik warned about the harmful effects of loud music, particularly when listened to through headphones.
According to data from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), noise-induced hearing loss is the second most common type of SNHL after age-related causes. A 2017 study found that around 80% of individuals aged 13 to 18 used headphones to listen to music for one to three hours daily. Another NIH study in 2021 reported that approximately 1.7% of people worldwide experience noise-induced hearing loss, with headphone users in noisy environments being at a 4.5-fold higher risk.
Health experts caution that even moderate volumes can cause hearing damage over time if exposure is prolonged. Dr. Raman points out that today’s digital devices allow for seamless volume increases, often exceeding safe limits without users realizing it.
Protecting Your Hearing
While SNHL is not life-threatening, it can significantly impact self-esteem and communication abilities, often leading to depression. To protect your hearing, reduce exposure to loud sounds, use earplugs or earmuffs in noisy environments, and avoid ototoxic medications.
Alka Yagnik’s experience serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of hearing health and the potential risks associated with modern listening habits. As she continues to raise awareness, it is crucial for individuals to take proactive steps in protecting their hearing.
