Bollywood playback singer Alka Yagnik has been diagnosed with a rare sensorineural hearing loss.

“A few weeks ago, while I was getting off a plane, I suddenly realized I couldn’t hear anything,” the legendary singer wrote on Instagram.

He said that due to the viral attack, he was diagnosed with sensorineural nerve hearing loss, which is quite rare.

Yagnik wrote, “Having gathered some courage in the weeks following the incident, I now want to break my silence for all my friends and well-wishers who have been asking me why I have been missing in action. My doctors have diagnosed it as a rare sensorineural hearing loss caused by the viral attack.”

Acknowledging her diagnosis, the singer has cautioned people against listening to music at very loud volumes and using headphones.

“I would like to caution my fans and young colleagues against listening to music at very high volumes and using headphones. One day, I would like to spread awareness about the health hazards of my professional life,” she added.

What is Sensorineural nerve hearing loss?

Sensorineural nerve hearing loss is a type of hearing loss caused by damage to the inner ear or the nerve pathways that transmit sound from the ear to the brain.

Although sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) is a natural process of aging, listening to music too loud can also cause permanent damage to the inner ear or auditory nerve.

Inside your inner ear, a spiral-shaped organ called the cochlea contains tiny hairs called stereocilia. These hairs are responsible for converting vibrations from sound waves into nerve signals, which your auditory nerve transmits to your brain. Exposure to noise louder than 85 decibels can damage these hairs.

Even then, hearing loss may not become apparent until 30-50% of these hairs are damaged. To put 85 decibels into perspective, this is roughly equivalent to the noise of heavy traffic from inside a car.

Sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) can range from mild to complete hearing loss, depending on the extent of the damage.

Causes of Sensorineural Nerve Hearing Loss

• Congenital factors: Genetic factors or complications during pregnancy or childbirth.
• Noise exposure: Prolonged exposure to loud noise can damage the hair cells of the inner ear, leading to noise-induced hearing loss.
• Ageing: The natural aging process can damage or destroy hair cells in the inner ear.
• Infections and diseases: Autoimmune diseases such as meningitis, mumps, measles, and Meniere’s disease.
• trauma: Head injury or injury to the inner ear.
• Ototoxic drugs: Some antibiotics and chemotherapy medicines.

Symptoms of Sensorineural Nerve Hearing Loss

• Difficulty understanding speech.
• Muffled or distorted sounds.
• Ringing, buzzing, or hissing sounds in the ears.
• Difficulty hearing high pitched sounds.
• Balance problems.

If you experience these symptoms, it is important to consult an audiologist for proper diagnosis and treatment.

Treatments for Sensorineural Nerve Hearing Loss

While sensorineural nerve hearing loss is typically permanent, several treatment options help manage symptoms. Medications provide relief from the underlying problems of SNHL.

Cochlear implants can also be used to correct hearing loss. Hearing aids can help amplify sound.