Celebrities with Hearing Loss
Have you heard of many celebrities experiencing hearing loss – there are more than you might think. However, finding celebrities that are open about their hearing loss is not as common as those that have other health concerns (Stevie Wonder – Blindness, Michael J. Foxx – Parkinson’s). Maybe it’s because of the stigma and fear that surrounds hearing loss.
But, there are now a number of celebrities with hearing loss that have become vocal advocates for hearing health awareness.
Here are a few…
Actors
Whoopi Goldberg, Actor/Comic
The well known actor and co-host of The View has very openly discussed her hearing loss and wearing hearing aids. She attributes her hearing loss to listening to very loud music too close to her ears for too long. Today, she is an advocate for using your portable listening devices at moderate volumes so you can keep enjoying your favourite music.
Gerard Butler, Actor
The Scottish actor best known for his rolls in 300 and P.S. I Love You, has hearing loss and tinnitus in his right ear due to surgery he had as a child. He says it’s that surgery that was also responsible for his crooked smile.
Halle Barry, Actress
Although Barry is a Type 1 Diabetic, which gives her a higher risk of having hearing loss, that’s not what caused her hearing loss. Due to an abusive relationship, the actress lost 80% of the hearing in her right ear. She is now a spokesperson for standing up against violence and uses her story to inspire other women.
Lou Ferrigno, Actor and Body Builder
Best known for his portrayal of the Hulk in the 70’s, the actor has worn hearing aids since the age of 5. Ferrigno lost his hearing due to an infection shortly after birth.
Marleen Matiln, Actress
Marleen is the only deaf performer to ever win an Academy Award. She has been deaf since childhood due to illness and is an advocate for deaf and hard of hearing entertainers.
Others include…
- Barbra Streisand – the American Broadway actress and musician has suffered from Tinnitus most of her life.
- Jane Lynch – due to a virus as a child, the actress has no hearing in one ear.
- William Shatner – the actor has Tinnitus due to an explosion during the filming of Star Trek.
- Stephen Colbert – The Late Show host is deaf in his right ear due to a failed childhood surgery to repair a hole in his eardrum.
Musicians
Phil Collins, Musician and Songwriter
Best known as the drummer and lead singer of Genesis (or for the younger crowd the guy who sang in the movie Tarzan), Collins took a hiatus from music due to hearing loss in his left ear and some other medical issues. He has since returned focusing more on composing.
Pete Townsend, Musician The Who
The lead guitarist from the legendary rock band has hearing loss in both ears and tinnitus. He attributes his hearing loss to using earphones in the recording studio and years of playing live, loud concerts. He now wears hearing aids that he says have helped him feel “reborn”. Townshend also helped fund the non-profit hearing advocacy group H.E.A.R.(Hearing Education and Awareness for Rockers).
Roger Daltrey, also of The Who also has hearing loss and strongly urges fans to wear ear protection too!
Brian Wilson, Musician The Beach Boys
One of the worlds most beloved songwriters has almost total hearing loss in his right ear, but not from the years of loud concerts. Brian has had hearing loss since he was a child due to a head injury caused by his abusive father. But that didn’t stop him from pursuing his love of music.
Others include…
- Huey Lewis – the singer/songwriter suffers from noise-induced hearing loss and tinnitus from years of playing loudly and without hearing protection.
- Eric Clapton – the musician also attributes his hearing loss due to noise.
Athletes
Chris Colwill, Olympic Swimmer
Chris has competed in two Olympics for the United States swim team. He was born with 60% hearing loss and wears hearing aids outside of the pool. While competing, he relies on visual cues from his coaches and watching the scoreboard to keep track of his standings.
Lance Allred, NBA
Allred was the first legally deaf NBA player. Lance has had hearing loss since childhood and wears hearing aids. He was drafted into the NBA in 2008 playing for the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Derrick Coleman, NFL
Coleman was the first deaf player in the NFL. Diagnosed in childhood when his parents noticed his delay in speech, Coleman has worn hearing aids most of his life. He currently plays for the Minnesota Vikings.
Historic Figures
Ludwig Van Beethoven, composer and musician
One of the most famous composers and pianists had hearing loss that began in his late 20’s. By the end of his life, he was almost deaf, but that didn’t stop him from composing some of the world’s most admired works; his most famous which were composed in the last 15 years of his life.
Thomas Edison, inventor
Best known for inventing the phonograph, the motion picture camera, and the light bulb, Edison had hearing problems at an early age due to scarlet fever.
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