Health professionals advise that prolonged exposure to headphones, even at a modest volume, can harm hearing. Furthermore, the duration of exposure contributes to damage in addition to volume.
Alka Yagnik, a veteran playback singer, recently disclosed that she had a rare sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). The singer revealed on June 18 on Instagram that she had been diagnosed with the illness following a viral outburst.
“To all my fans, friends, followers, and well-wishers,” Alka said on her Instagram. 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.”
Yagnik is regarded as one of the most versatile and well-known playback singers of the 1990s, having performed hundreds of songs in a variety of languages. She is the recipient of two National Film Awards and seven Filmfare Awards. In 2022, the Guinness Book of World Records named her the world’s most-streamed artist.
What Exactly is Sensorineural Hearing Loss?
Yagnik’s instance demonstrates the dangers of loud music and excessive use of headphones. So, everyone is wondering what exactly SNHL is.
Hearing loss can be either conductive or sensorineural. Anything relating to the eardrum is conductive, whereas diseases involving the inner ear, cochlea, nerve endings, and nerve cells are sensorinureal in nature. Conductive hearing loss is caused by a physical blockage preventing sounds from reaching the inner ear, whereas SNHL is caused by damage to the auditory nerve or the inner ear’s hair cells.
SNHL is a form of hearing loss that results from injury to the inner ear or its nerve endings. Hearing loss can be caused by injury to the nerve that sends information to the brain.
“Sudden hearing loss is usually caused by viral infections such as herpesvirus, the use of certain medications, or sustained exposure to loud sounds (above 80 dB). It could potentially be idiopathic (unknown cause). This is known as ‘adult abrupt onset single-sided or bilateral SNHL’.”
TREATMENT FOR SNHL
Once the diagnosis is confirmed, the most frequent treatment option is to administer steroid injections to minimise swelling in the eardrum. SNHL can be treated with steroids in combination with antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and antiplatelet medications, as well as hyperbaric oxygen therapy. Wait three to six months to see if there is any improvement. However, if there is no improvement, the patient can have cochlear implant surgery.
Risks of loud music and earphones. Long-term exposure to loud sounds causes hearing loss by damaging the auditory nerve and inner ear hair cells. Health experts warn that using headphones, even at a low volume, can harm hearing over time. Not only does the volume cause damage, but so does the duration of exposure.
Though SNHL is not life-threatening, people with hearing loss report a decrease in self-esteem and confidence as a result of their difficulty interacting with others. Hearing loss is significantly linked to depression.
A few preventative measures can safeguard your ears. Limiting exposure to loud noises, wearing earplugs or earmuffs to prevent occupational hearing loss in industrial workers or musicians, and avoiding ototoxic drugs.
