Alka Yagnik Diagnosed With Rare Sensory Hearing Loss: What It Means

Alka Yagnik, renowned for her prolific Bollywood playback singing career, revealed a personal health challenge through a heartfelt Instagram post on June 17. The singer disclosed that she has been diagnosed with a rare condition known as sensorineural nerve hearing loss, triggered by a sudden viral attack. This unexpected setback has left her grappling with its profound impact on her life and career.

Alka Yagnik Diagnosed With Rare Sensory Hearing Loss

In her Instagram message, accompanied by a photo, Yagnik expressed gratitude to her fans, friends, and well-wishers for their concern during her absence from the public eye. She recounted, "A few weeks ago, as I walked out of a flight, I suddenly felt I was not able to hear anything."

She added, "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 unawares."

Yagnik also issued a cautionary note to her fans and younger colleagues about the risks of exposure to excessively loud music and headphones, hinting at the potential health hazards she believes may have contributed to her condition. Despite the setback, she expressed hope to return to her beloved profession with the aid of her supporters' understanding and encouragement. 

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A post shared by Alka Yagnik (@therealalkayagnik)

Known for her iconic songs like Pardesi Pardesi, Gazab Ka Hai Din, and Taal Se Taal Mila, the singer has long been celebrated for her ability to adapt her voice to suit diverse musical styles and enhance cinematic storytelling. In 2022, Alka Yagnik secured a place in the Guinness Book of World Records for the third consecutive year. She emerged as the most streamed singer of 2022, surpassing global icons like Taylor Swift, Drake, and Beyoncé. 

According to the Guinness World Records report, Alka's songs accumulated an impressive 15.3 billion streams in 2022 alone, averaging around 42 million streams per day. This achievement follows her record-breaking performances in previous years, with 17 billion streams in 2021 and 16.6 billion in 2020.