Doctors explain singer Alka Yagnik’s hearing loss

Bollywood playback singer Alka Yagnik was diagnosed with a rare sensorineural hearing loss following a bout of the virus. She was unable to hear anything after getting off a plane a few weeks ago, she shared on Instagram on Tuesday.

The 58-year-old also warned her fans “about the stress caused by very loud music and headphones (sic)”.

Sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) is a disease of the inner ear caused by damage to the tiny hair cells that line the cochlea, the auditory nerve that carries sound to the brain, explains Dr. Jagdish Chaturvedi, an ENT surgeon.

SNHL can develop gradually with age or occur overnight. Sudden hearing loss is almost irreversible if treatment is not started within 48 or 72 hours of its onset, says Dr. Deena Priya, a professor of audiology at a speech and hearing institute.

Sudden hearing loss can affect anyone, including healthy people, without any apparent warning, says Dr EV Raman, a consultant ENT and head and neck surgeon at a private hospital. “It usually affects one ear. Hearing loss occurs immediately or within three days,” he adds. Sudden hearing loss can reduce any speech to a whisper, while gradual hearing loss
initially impairs the perception of high tones such as women’s voices, says Dr. Deena.

Noise, smoking, alcohol consumption, comorbidities such as diabetes, autoimmune diseases such as arthritis and cancer drugs can also suddenly affect hearing. “Changes in middle ear pressure while diving or flying can damage the inner ear and cause sudden but temporary deafness. If this happens repeatedly, the deafness can become permanent,” adds Dr Chaturvedi.

Sudden hearing loss can also be caused by brain tumors that put pressure on the auditory nerve or by road accidents that damage the skull. Dr. Karthik Shamanna, professor and head of the ENT department of a medical college, has observed sudden deafness in patients who traveled in air-conditioned buses or consumed cold drinks. “Prolonged exposure to low temperatures can impair the blood supply to the brain and cause damage to the structures of the inner ear,” he explains.

Viral infections have emerged as a major risk factor since the Covid-19 pandemic. “We also see this in children with brain fever or mumps. But recovery is faster in children than in older people,”
Says Dr. Deena.

SUDDEN DEAFNESS? DO THIS
Visit an ENT doctor immediately. If swollen earwax is not the cause, further tests will be performed. Hearing can be restored up to 85% with steroids (to reduce cell damage), vasodilators (to increase blood flow).
“Take antiviral medications and vitamin B12 in a timely manner,” says Dr. Shamanna.

According to Dr Chaturvedi, almost complete recovery is possible from viral infections. However, despite early intervention, some do not show any improvement, notes Dr Raman. In such cases, hearing aids and cochlear implant surgery are recommended.

AIRLINERS, PLEASE NOTE
Flying with a cold or ear infection can cause pressure fluctuations in the ear, causing dizziness and facial pain associated with sudden or gradual deafness. “Consult your doctor beforehand. You may be prescribed medication or a saline nasal spray, or asked to chew gum, swallow lozenges, or drink water as the plane descends. I suggest the ‘Toynbee maneuver’ – swallow with your mouth and nose closed, then with your nose open. Repeat several times. This helps equalize the pressure in the ear,” explains Dr.
Chaturvedi.

For others: Set the volume of your listening device to 50% or less; use earplugs/muffs in a noisy environment; eat dairy products, eggs, meat and seafood to get vitamin B12.