What makes Alka Yagnik’s hearing loss diagnosis rare? Learn all about the disorder

Bollywood playback singer Alka Yagnik, whose melodious tunes had brought up the millennial generation, recently shared on social media that doctors have diagnosed her with a rare sensory neural nerve hearing loss, as a result of a viral attack.

Taking to Instagram, she revealed in a lengthy caption, “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.”

 

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A post shared by Alka Yagnik (@therealalkayagnik)

But what is this rare hearing loss, and how can you understand the signs and symptoms of it? Indianexpress.com spoke to clinical experts to find out more about this disorder and ways to treat it.

“Sudden hearing loss, such as experienced by singer Alka Yagnik, often includes a rapid decline in hearing in one ear, occurring overnight or over a few days. This loss may be partial or complete and can be accompanied by a “pop” sound, tinnitus, a feeling of fullness in the ear, dizziness, and sometimes vertigo,” explained Dr Murarji Ghadge, consultant ENT and sleep disorder specialist, Ruby Hall Clinic, Pune.

Why does it occur?

According to him, sudden hearing loss is relatively rare, affecting about 5-20 people per 100,000 annually. He said that it is often idiopathic, meaning that the precise cause remains unidentified in most cases.

“The sudden onset of sensory neural nerve hearing loss (SNHL), particularly due to a viral attack, makes it relatively rare compared to gradual forms of hearing loss. Misdiagnosis is common, leading to underreporting, and the specific viral causes of SNHL are less frequent than other causes of hearing loss,” shared Dr Sheetal Goyal, neurologist, Wockhardt Hospitals, Mumbai Central.

“The causes are varied, ranging from viral infections caused by anything between herpes simplex, measles, mumps, and varicella-zoster virus. These viruses can damage the cochlea or auditory nerve, leading to rapid hearing loss,” shared Ghadge.

Let’s understand more about this type of hearing loss (representative image) (Source: Getty Images/Thinkstock)

How can you treat it?

Dr Ghadge said that treatment for viral-induced hearing loss typically involves high-dose corticosteroids to reduce inflammation and swelling in the inner ear, administered orally or through intratympanic injections. “Antiviral medications might be beneficial if a viral infection is suspected, but their efficacy remains inconclusive and they are not a standard treatment.”

Hearing aids or cochlear implants may be considered for those with significant, permanent hearing loss, he added.

According to Dr Ghadge, spontaneous recovery occurs in about 30-65 per cent of cases within the first two weeks, with some patients seeing improvements for up to three months. Early intervention is crucial for better outcomes.

How can it be prevented?

Dr Ghadge shared that preventive measures include maintaining overall health, protecting ears from loud noises, practicing good hygiene to avoid ear infections, and ensuring timely vaccinations to prevent viral infections known to cause hearing loss.

Dr Goyal also recommended seeking immediate medical help if you experience sudden hearing loss or other symptoms.

“Protect your ears in noisy environments and have regular hearing check-ups, especially if you have a history of ear infections or other risk factors,” she said.

Dr Goyal further suggested avoiding self-diagnosis. “Prevent prolonged exposure to loud noises without ear protection and do not stop taking prescribed medications without consulting your doctor,” she said.

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