Renowned playback singer Alka Yagnik ruled with Kumar Sanu in 80s-90s was diagnosed with a rare and serious health condition called Sensorineural Hearing Loss (SNHL) in 2024.
This is a specific type of hearing impairment caused by damage to the inner ear or the nerve pathways from the inner ear to the brain.
The sudden hearing impairment was triggered by a rare, sudden viral attack.
It has severely affected her hearing, leading to a break from singing, live performances, and studio work.
She reported experiencing a sudden total inability to hear, often accompanied by ear fullness, vertigo, or ringing (tinnitus).
Though SNHL is often permanent, it is not considered “life-threatening” in the sense of causing death, but it is a “major, life-altering setback”. As of early 2026, she is still managing this condition.
She has publicly warned her fans and fellow artists about the risks of using headphones for long periods and listening to high-volume music.
News Edit KV Raman
