Alka Yagnik's Rare Hearing Disorder Sparks Ear Hygiene Awareness

Playback singer Alka Yagnik recently revealed on Instagram that she has been diagnosed with a rare hearing disorder. “To all my fans, friends, followers, and well-wishers: A few weeks ago, after disembarking from a flight, I suddenly found myself unable to hear anything. It took me some time to gather the courage to speak about it, but I now want to break my silence for all those who have been wondering why I’ve been absent. My doctors have diagnosed me with a rare sensory neural nerve hearing loss caused by a viral attack,” she posted.

Yagnik, renowned for her hit Bollywood songs, also shared a message of caution for her followers. “To my fans and young colleagues, I urge you to be mindful of exposure to very loud music and headphones,” she advised.

Dr Sanjay Sachdeva, senior ENT consultant, HearClear, says, “The ears are an integral part of the body, enabling smooth communication, and crucial for awareness of the surroundings. Beyond hearing ability, the ear is essential for the functioning of various cognitive processes and assists in performing daily activities seamlessly.”

Understanding the significance of healthy ears, Dr Sachdeva shares ways to maintain ear hygiene:

1. Limit exposure to sound below 85 dbExposure to loud sounds such as concerts, racing tracks, discos, loud speakers at a party, high earphone volume, etc. can affect hearing permanently, especially if exposed for a long time. Therefore, limiting exposure time for sound above 85 dB is recommended. It is wise to make practice of giving breaks when listening to loud sounds (like music, concerts, fitness classes, etc.). This is important to give ear the necessary time to recover after exposure to loud noises.
2. Practicing 60/60 ruleImplementing the 60/60 rule is another way to reduce exposure to loud sounds. This is based on the principle of exposure to 60 dB of noise for 60 minutes, which should be followed by a little rest for rejuvenating the inner ear.
3. Use hearing protectionPeople involved in jobs with heavy machinery such as lawn mowers, jackhammers etc. are subjected to loud sounds. It is mandatory for them to use protective gear and are advised to perform the job with sound protection. However, using hearing protection like foam earplugs though economical, are not very effective. Therefore, custom-fit hearing protection products should be used for enhanced reduction of sound levels.
4. Avoid using external thingsThe ear is inherently self-cleansing in nature. It produces earwax, which traps dust and debris and might even fight off infections. Therefore, people should refrain from using cotton swabs, bobby pins, keys, paper clips, or anything else to clean or scratch their ears. These can push wax further inside and damage the eardrum. Cleaning the ear with a towel wrapped on the finger is sufficient enough to swipe away the dead skin that is transported to the outer ear canal.
5. ExerciseTo maintain a healthy ear, people should add exercise to their daily routine as it keeps the blood pumping throughout the body, including the ears. Consequently, it keeps the internal parts of the ear healthy.

Having elaborated on the tips to maintain healthy ear hygiene, it is recommended to visit a doctor on facing difficulty in hearing . Complaints regarding high TV volume, and problems following a conversation of two or more people speaking at the same time, are some of the instances requiring the intervention of doctors. Along with this, few people tend to form excessive wax, causing temporary hearing loss. They should use wax softeners and visit their health providers for wax removal. It is not advisable to do it on their own.