Photos by Gage Skidmore, David Shankbone, Peabody Awards, David W. Baker, Kate Wellington, Franz Richter, Harald Krichel.
If you’ve been saying, “What?” to people a lot, or been getting complaints you have the TV too loud, you’re not alone. Some of the top celebrities on this continent have hearing loss and learned hearing aids make a huge difference in their lives.
For a lot of actors, they realize being successful in their business is about relationships. It’s hard to have good relationships when you can’t hear the person you’re talking to. And it’s especially hard to do a scene with another actor if you can’t hear them. After all, according to experts, acting is really reacting.
Actors with hearing loss
So, who has hearing loss from the acting community? You might be surprised.
Whoopi Goldberg, actor and comedian, figures her hearing loss is from listening to music too loud. She has hearing loss in both ears.
The original Hulk himself, tough guy Lou Ferrigno, has hearing loss from a childhood infection.
The gorgeous Halle Berry has Type 1 Diabetes, which is a big risk for hearing loss however her hearing loss (80% loss in one ear) comes from domestic violence.
And there’s so many more, all with different stories about the cause of their hearing loss. William Shatner (an explosion while filming Star Trek), Jane Lynch (childhood illness), Jodie Foster, Rob Lowe, Robert Redford, and Holly Hunter.
Singers and musicians with hearing loss
It’s a great thing that hearing aids can also combat tinnitus, that annoying ringing and buzzing in your ears that no one else can hear. Barbra Streisand, singer, actor and director, uses hearing aids to help calm the tinnitus that she’s experienced most of her life. Phil Collins, musician, singer and songwriter, also has hearing loss in one ear.
Then there’s the gang who attribute their hearing loss to loud music. Including a president of the United States.
Both Roger Daltry and Pete Townend of The Who have hearing loss from loud music. As do Huey Lewis and Eric Clapton. Is anyone surprised Alice Cooper has hearing loss from loud music? In interviews, he refers to his hearing aids as ‘clearing aids’!
And finally, Bill Clinton, the 42nd president of the United States has attributed his hearing loss to loud music.
There are so many more celebrity actors, singers, musicians, athletes and political figures who have hearing loss and look to hearing aids to help them be the best they can be.
What does this mean for you?
If even celebrities are willing to talk about their hearing loss out in the wild world of the web, what’s stopping you? Hearing aids aren’t a sign of aging; they’re a sign you’re willing to look after your health and do your part in your relationships.
If you think you might be experiencing some hearing loss, the sooner you get it investigated, the better. Untreated hearing loss has been connected to depression, dementia, feelings of isolation, the breakdown of relationships and more.
Get started today with a free hearing test from Hear Well Be Well. There’s never any pressure or obligation to buy. We just want you to have the best hearing health you can.