Alka Yagnik has revealed that she is still suffering from a rare hearing disorder more than a year after her diagnosis. The veteran playback singer has shared a fresh update on her health, confirming that her struggle
with the rare hearing disorder is far from over. The singer, who stepped away from the spotlight in 2024, said she continues to deal with the effects of the condition. In an interview with NDTV, Alka admitted she has not fully recovered and is still facing difficulties. The condition has also affected her professional commitments. “Composers approach me now and then. But I am not able to do it,” Alka said in the interview.
Why she has stayed away from work
Alka’s absence from new assignments has been noticeable in recent months, especially given her long-standing presence in the music industry. Her inability to take up projects now stems directly from her diagnosis of sensorineural hearing loss. Her last recorded song was Naram Kaalja from Imtiaz Ali’s Amar Singh Chamkila (2024), composed by A.R. Rahman. Since then, she has not lent her voice to any new releases.
When she was first diagnosed
Alka Yagnik had first spoken about her condition in 2024 through a detailed note on Instagram, revealing that it was caused by a sudden viral attack. “To all my fans, friends, followers and well-wishers. 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 sensorineural nerve hearing loss, due to a viral attack…this sudden, major setback has caught me completely unaware,” Alka wrote in the note.
At the time, she had also asked fans for support as she tried to come to terms with the situation. “As I attempt to come to terms with it please keep me in your prayers.”
Along with sharing her diagnosis last year, Alka had also issued a warning about exposure to loud sounds, including music and headphones. The singer urged people to be mindful of their hearing health, drawing from her own experience.
