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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.