Introduction

• Recently, the legendary singer Alka Yagnik has revealed that she has been diagnosed with a troubling health condition: sensorineural hearing loss. 

• This rare condition occurs when the inner ear or the actual hearing nerve is damaged. 

• While the condition diagnosed in Yagnik is not life-threatening, it is difficult to reverse and can severely affect communication and daily life.

What is Sensorineural Hearing Loss?

• Sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) occurs when the inner ear or the actual hearing nerve itself becomes damaged. 

• According to Healthline, the spiraling organ inside the inner ear called the cochlea contains tiny hairs known as stereocilia. 

• These hairs convert vibrations from sound waves into neural signals that the auditory nerve carries to the brain. When some of the hair cells in the cochlea are exposed to sounds louder than 85 decibels, they get fragile and can later get damaged, impacting hearing.

• The effects of SNHL, however, cannot quite be felt till about 30 to 50 percent of the hair strand is damaged. The hearing loss as a result of this diagnosis may be mild, moderate, or severe depending on the damage that occurred. 

• According to Dr. Murarji Ghadge, a consultant ENT and sleep disorder specialist at Ruby Hall Clinic in Pune, sudden hearing loss is rather rare, affecting about 5 to 20 people per 100,000 annually.

Causes of Sensorineural Hearing Loss

• Congenital factors include infections and complications at birth. 

• Acquired causes include exposure to loud noises, the natural aging process, head trauma, autoimmune disease, Meniere’s disease, circulation problems, as well as the side effects of certain drugs.

• Many experts and doctors think that the most likely cause of SNHL can be a viral infection or inflammation. 

• Dr. Deepti Sinha, Lead Consultant in ENT at CK Birla Hospital (R), Delhi, added that among all the viruses, the most common association has been found with the herpes virus, which can directly invade the brain’s nerves, infect the inner ear’s fluid spaces, or trigger an autoimmune response in the inner ear.

Treatment and Management

• While SNHL is not life-threatening, it can severely affect communication and daily life. According to the Cleveland Clinic, treatment options for this condition include medications such as corticosteroids to reduce swelling in the cochlear hair cells. “Antiviral medications might be beneficial if a viral infection is suspected, but their efficacy remains inconclusive and they are not a standard treatment,” said Dr. Ghadge.

• Other treatments involve cochlear implants, hearing aids, and assistive listening devices for those with significant, permanent hearing loss. 

Prevention

• These include using hearing protection (earplugs or earmuffs) during loud activities, lowering the volume when listening to music through headphones or earbuds, avoiding smoking, getting regular exercise, and managing high blood pressure.

Conclusion

• Alka Yagnik’s diagnosis of sensorineural hearing loss highlights the challenges associated with this rare condition. 

• Despite being non-life-threatening, it poses significant challenges to daily life and communication. 

• Understanding the causes, treatment options, and preventive measures is crucial for managing this condition effectively.

Relevance for Competitive Exams

• This article is important for UPSC CSE, UPSC CAPF, Assistant Commandant, Essay writing, current affairs, NDA, CDS, SSB Interview, AFCAT, IAS, IB ACIO, and other competitive exams. 

• It provides insight into a significant health condition, its impact, and management, which is relevant for topics related to health, science, and technology in various exams. 

• Additionally, understanding the medical and social implications of such conditions can be useful for essay writing and interviews.