What is Sensorineural Hearing Loss That Alka Yagnik Has Been Diagnosed With?

Mumbai: Playback singer Alka Yagnik has recently revealed that she was diagnosed with a rare hearing disorder some weeks ago, a “sudden, major setback” that she says caught her completely unawares. In a post on Instagram, Yagnik, 58, said she has been diagnosed with “sensory neural nerve hearing loss” due to a viral attack.  

“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,” the two-time National Award winner wrote.

What is Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss?

SSNHL occurs in approximately 10-20 per 100,000 people annually. It usually affects only one ear. The exact cause mostly remains unknown. Viral infections, insufficient blood supply to the inner ear, autoimmune diseases, trauma, tumours or drug reactions are thought to be the possible aetiology.

Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss: Diagnosis

The diagnosis is confirmed by hearing tests, mainly Pure Tone Audiometry (PTA) and Impedance Audiometry. An MRI scan of the brain and inner ear is always done to rule out any possible tumour.

Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss: Treatment

Steroids – Oral / intravenous or intratympanic steroid injections are the mainstay of treatment. Prednisolone is typically initially used for 1 week and the dose is then tapered over a few days depending on response.

Other treatment options like Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy, Antiviral drugs, Antioxidants and Vasodilators are also used especially if steroids have not proven to be effective but there is no significant clinical evidence in scientific literature to prove their value in helping with recovery.

Treatment should be instituted as soon as possible, preferably within hours or at the latest within one week. Delayed treatment after 2 weeks reduces the chances of any potential recovery significantly.  

Approximately 50% patients show some degree of recovery within a few days. Chances of recovery are much higher if steroids have been administered within 48 hours of onset of hearing loss. Recovery can be complete or near total in some cases, and remains partial or minimal in many cases.

In those cases where significant hearing loss persists even after 2-3 months, we should consider the option of hearing aids or cochlear implants. Adults with recent onset hearing loss do very well with cochlear implants even if the hearing loss is severe to profound.    

With Inputs From Dr Shomeshwar Singh MS DLO FRCS MD, Senior Consultant – ENT & Cochlear Implants