Veteran playback singer Alka Yagnik has been diagnosed with a rare condition called sensory neural nerve loss, a hearing disorder. She recently shared about her condition on her Instagram account mentioning her illness as the reason for her absence from the public eye.
Sharing a picture of herself, Alka wrote a long note asking for everyone’s support and understanding. She also requested people to pray for her as she tries to readjust.
The caption of her post read, “To all my fans, friends, followers and well-wishers. A few weeks ago, as I walked out of a flight, I suddenly felt I was not able to hear anything. Having mustered some courage in the weeks following the episode, I want to break my silence now for all my friends and well-wishers who have been asking me why I’m missing in action.”
“It has been diagnosed by my docs as a rare sensory neural nerve hearing loss, due to a viral attack…This sudden, major setback has caught me completely unaware. As I attempt to come to terms with it please keep me in your prayers,” she added.
Requesting people to be careful about exposure to loud music and headphones, she wrote, “For my fans and young colleagues, I would add a word of caution regarding exposure to very loud music and headphones. One day, I wish to share the health perils of my professional life. With all your love and support I am hoping to recalibrate my life and come back to you soon. Your support and understanding will mean the world to me in this critical hour.”
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According to Dr. Manish Munjal, Vice Chairman of ENT at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital in Delhi, sudden sensory hearing loss is a medical emergency. If not aggressively treated within 48-72 hours, it can become irreversible. The problem originates in the inner ear organ called the Cochlea. Damage to the hair cells within the Cochlea leads to this condition.
Simple viruses like Herpes, Varicella, and Mumps can trigger sudden hearing loss. Sudden exposure to noise levels above 85 decibels (dB) can also cause this disorder.
However, once treatment begins promptly, the chances of recovery are usually 70% or higher. Interestingly, this disorder affects only 1% of bilateral ears compared to single ears.
