Celebrated playback singer Alka Yagnik received Padma Bhushan, India's third highest civilian honour, from President Droupadi Murmu at a ceremony held on 23 June 2026. But her frail health at the event left many fans worried. Soon after, Alka Yagnik herself addressed the concern on social media, explaining that for the past two years she has been battling a serious health problem, which is exactly why she stays away from public functions.
According to the singer, a rare hearing related illness gripped her in 2024 right after a flight. The condition is known as sensorineural hearing loss, or SNHL. It hit her hearing so severely that she can neither record new songs nor stay active in the music world the way she once did.
What exactly is this condition
Sensorineural hearing loss is a condition in which the tiny cells inside the ear, or the nerves that carry sound to the brain, get damaged. The direct result is that a person begins struggling to hear. What makes it tricky is that it can build up slowly or, as in Alka Yagnik's case, strike all of a sudden. In many cases it becomes permanent for life.
What causes it
There is rarely a single reason behind this illness. Advancing age, prolonged exposure to loud noise, ear infections, viral illness, a head injury, the side effects of certain medicines and inherited genetic factors can all raise the risk. In Alka Yagnik's case, a viral infection has been identified as the main cause.
Symptoms you should not ignore
The warning signs matter a great deal. A drop in hearing ability, sounds coming through muffled rather than clear, trouble following a conversation in crowded places, a ringing or whistling noise in the ears, a feeling of fullness in the ear and occasional dizziness are among the common indicators.
How it is diagnosed and treated
Doctors rely on hearing tests, an MRI and several other examinations to detect the condition. If it is caught early, treatment usually begins with steroid medicines. But once hearing is permanently affected, options such as a hearing aid or a cochlear implant come into play.
How to protect yourself
While not every case can be fully prevented, a few precautions can lower the risk. Staying away from loud sounds, limiting headphone use, getting the ears checked regularly and following a healthy lifestyle all help. Alka Yagnik too has often urged young people to avoid loud music and excessive headphone use.
