9 Celebrities With Hearing Loss

3 minutes

hearing and hearing loss

Published: 23 December 2022

24 January 2025

Hearing loss is much more common than you might think. People of all ages and all walks of life can have hearing problems, including approximately 3.6 million Australians.

Among the millions of people with hearing loss are some of the world's most celebrated musicians, actors, and public figures. Here are just 9 of the many celebrities with hearing loss that you may not have known about!

1. Neil Young

Neil Young is one of Canada's great songwriters. He also happens to be a long sufferer of tinnitus, a form of hearing loss that can cause people to experience ringing in their ears. He believes his tinnitus is the result of his exposure to loud noise as a musician. Though his condition prevented him from touring for a few years, it eventually inspired him to create softer music — resulting in his acclaimed album Harvest Moon.

2. Barbra Streisand

That's right — one of the world's most beloved vocalists is another sufferer of tinnitus. In a 1985 interview with Barbara Walters, the Broadway legend discussed how she had navigated the challenges of tinnitus since the age of nine. Of course, she never let her condition stop her and continues to perform in sold-out venues today.

3. Eric Clapton

Eric Clapton is another famous musician that suffers from hearing loss. He believes his tinnitus and permanent hearing loss is the result of constant exposure to loud noise, namely in small studios.

4. Halle Berry

In 2004, Halle Berry disclosed that she had lost almost all hearing in her right ear due to domestic violence from an ex-partner. This Oscar winner's brave admission has raised awareness about domestic abuse, and she has gone on to have an impressive career while being an advocate for women everywhere.

5. Holly Hunter

Actress and producer Holly Hunter is completely deaf in her left ear. However, she feels this has benefited her career. Holly believes that her being hard of hearing has added to her natural intensity, as she tends to deeply focus on what others are saying.

6. Robert Redford

As a winner of the Cecil B. DeMille Award, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and countless other awards, American actor Robert Redford has a long list of achievements. He also happens to be partially deaf in his left ear. He says the hearing loss was caused by an untreated ear infection that he developed in 2013 while filming in water for the film All Is Lost.

7. Whoopi Goldberg

Comedian, actress, and TV host Whoopi Goldberg believes her hearing loss is the result of years of listening to loud music without proper ear protection. She now wears hearing aids and continues to thrive, though she still struggles to hear lower tones.

8. Jodie Foster

Filmmaker and actress Jodie Foster has worn a hearing aid for many years and also suffers from vertigo. She says she's still working on making her hearing health a priority.

9. Pete Townshend

Frontman of The Who, Pete Townshend, is yet another musician who attributes his hearing loss and tinnitus to decades of loud noise exposure. He now often wears hearing aids in both ears and continues to perform around the globe.

Take Care of Your Hearing

Hearing loss can cause anxiety and feelings of isolation, but you're not alone. Some of our most loved artists have experienced hearing issues as well and have found a variety of solutions to help them continue to thrive. The first step is having your hearing tested, which you can schedule by contacting us today.

Author

Connect Hearing

Sonova