 You don’t often hear or read about hearing loss in mainstream media. Have you seen any celebrities on TV, in a movie, or a musician wearing a hearing aid? Some advisors encourage them to hide their hearing loss, even though it is general knowledge that many musicians lose their hearing after performing for a long time.
Recently, there has been a rise in actors, musicians, and other notable people who have opened up about their hearing loss. The following individuals have been outspoken about their hearing problems, which helps destigmatize the condition. Notable Actors with Hearing Problems Halle Berry Halle Berry lost hearing in one ear after a domestic violence incident caused by a blow to the head by a former boyfriend. A traumatic brain injury (TBI), like a concussion, can cause permanent damage to the ear and auditory system that connects to the brain. Barry, a native of Cleveland, OH, was a pageant queen and a successful actress in TV and movies. She won an Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role in “Monster’s Ball” (2002) and an Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in “Introducing Dorothy Dandridge” (2000). Stephen Colbert As a child, Stephen Colbert had surgery to repair a perforated eardrum. The surgery caused single-sided deafness (SSD). He has joked about his ear by saying the surgeons “scooped it all out with a melon baller” and calls his external ear “a prop.” He’s gone on to host The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and received Peabody and Emmy Awards for his past shows, “The Daily Show,” “The Colbert Report,” and specials on Showtime. Whoopie Goldberg Whoopie Goldberg is an award-winning comedian and actress who also happens to wear hearing aids. She lost her hearing after many years of listening to loud music, which caused damage to her eardrum. Before she became an actress and comedian, she worked in a funeral parlor and as a bricklayer. She won an Academy Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for 1991’s “Ghost” and was an Oscar nominee for Best Actress in a Leading Role for 1986’s “The Color Purple.” Holly Hunter Actress Holly Hunter became deaf in her left ear after a case of mumps. At age 9, she started learning how to play the piano. Her piano skills came in handy when she played the role of a mute woman living in the 1850s in the movie “The Piano.” Her performance in this film helped her win an Oscar for Best Actress in 1993. Hunter is well known for her attention to detail, which she refined while listening to others attentively. Throughout her acting career, she received 91 nominations for various awards and won 44 times. She recently played Rhea Jarrell in the HBO series “Succession.” Steven Martin Actor, comedian, singer, banjo player, dancer, and writer Steve Martin revealed in an interview that he’s been struggling with tinnitus for several years. He said the cause of damage to his ear was from a gunfire scene from The Three Amigos. The noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) was likely caused by listening to loud music and performing live concerts with 28,000 screaming fans. He’s become habituated with tinnitus, stating that it “becomes easier to live with. It becomes your natural background noise.” Marlee Matlin Marlee Matlin’s hearing healthcare professionals are uncertain if a deformed cochlea or infection from childhood caused her deafness when she was 18 months old. That didn’t stop her from becoming history’s best-known and the most prolific actor. When she was seven, Matlin played Dorothy in “The Wizard of Oz” for a children’s theater company. Fifteen years later, she won the Academy Award for Best Actress in 1986’s “Children of a Lesser God.” She’s had a total of 14 acting nominations and won three times. Matlin has published “Deaf Child Crossing” - a series of children’s books - and a memoir called “I’ll Scream Later.” She is also the spokesperson for the largest provider of TV closed captioning. Robert Redford Most ear infections will gradually go away on their own and won’t lead to permanent hearing loss, but ear infections that remain untreated may cause permanent harm. It happened to Robert Redford in 2013 when filming “All is Lost.” He played a stranded sailor, and it required him to submerge his whole body in a water tank and get blasted with a water hose every day. An ear infection led to 60% of hearing loss in his left ear. Redford won an Oscar for Best Director for the 1981 film “Ordinary People.” He also starred in 1969’s “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid,” 1973’s “The Way We Were”, and 1973’s “The Sting”. Are you or a loved one experiencing hearing loss or tinnitus? Contact Pure Sound Hearing for a complimentary hearing test and consultation.  We’re continuing our coverage on raising awareness about National Protect Your Hearing Month. It’s the time of the year when we highlight the causes of hearing loss and preventative measures everyone can take.
Studies have revealed one in five Americans over 12 years old experienced hearing loss in at least one ear. Common causes of hearing loss include a work environment and attending sports arenas/stadiums or concerts. Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) can become permanent if treatment is not immediately received. You don’t necessarily need to avoid all noise but rather: 1. Be aware of how much time you are spending in a loud space 2. Know when to take a break 3. Wear earplugs when appropriate An Important Timeline on Hearing Protection and Awareness 1914 A patent was made available for disposable earplugs. 1976 This year marks the establishment of the National Hearing Conservation Association. This organization publicly advocates for hearing loss prevention. 2008 “It's a Noisy Planet. Protect Their Hearing® (Noisy Planet)” campaign was started by The National Institute of Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD). This movement focuses on people who actively try to help children follow healthy hearing practices. The main message is: “Turn it Down, Walk Away, or Use Hearing Protection.” Ways to Observe Protect Your Hearing Month
 If there’s a month-long recognition for something, you know it’s meaningful. National Protect Your Hearing Month is acknowledged at a national level every October. Hearing is an essential part of our daily lives.
Healthy hearing helps us maintain our physical health, cognitive health, emotional health, and overall quality of life. Having an easier time communicating with others, enjoying their company and laughter, listening to music, TV, your favorite podcast, or hearing sounds in nature improves each aspect of your life. Protecting your hearing with earplugs, being careful of loud and lengthy noise exposure, and practicing healthy physical and mental exercises can improve your hearing health. Hearing Protection and Noise-induced Hearing Loss The only type of preventable hearing loss is noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). It’s the second most common cause of hearing loss. The most common type of hearing loss is presbycusis (age-related hearing loss). NIHL occurs when loud noises impact the nerve endings in the inner ear, leading to damaged nerves. Temporary or permanent hearing damage may occur. The CDC estimates that about 40 million adults in the U.S. between the ages of 20-69 experience NIHL. One in four individuals who report good hearing has damage to their hearing. Earplugs (as mentioned above) can be customized or come in a standard shape and size. Earmuffs donned over the ears can protect hearing from noises that reach at least 70 decibels (dB). It just takes 70 dB to affect your hearing health. Here are some examples of noises that are about 70 dB:
How to Measure Noise Levels Using a decibel meter app to measure noise levels in places you frequent is a way to protect potential hearing loss and take proper preventive care. NIHL is permanent, so preventing possible exposure is vital to your hearing health. Regularly measuring noise levels in areas you frequent, like at home or in your work environment, can help you gauge what’s normal and what’s not normal. If you visit a sports arena or go to a concert, you’ll want to measure the noise levels as they tend to exceed the recommended limits. The 70-Decibel Limit Moderate noise is 70 dB since it’s under the 85 dB threshold that can damage a human’s ears. The 70-dB limit is also the upper limit that the EPA recommends during a 24-hour average noise level exposure. Hearing loss can occur from prolonged exposure to this noise level. If you hear noise levels that go beyond 70 dB for a short period, take a break from that noise by going to a quieter place for as long as you need. Your ears must recuperate from the noise exposure to prevent temporary or permanent harm. Average Noises and their Decibel Levels 20 dB - Rustling leaves 40 dB - Human whisper 60 dB - Normal conversation 85 dB - Heavy city traffic noises 90 dB - Hairdryer 100 dB - MP3 player at the highest volume 110 dB - A rock concert 120 dB - A plane getting ready to ascend during take-off 140 dB - Gunshots and fireworks If employees are regularly exposed to noises over 80-85 dB for 8 hours, employers must provide hearing protection to their workers. In public spaces, there are no clearly defined noise limits. The safest noise level in any setting is a maximum level of 70 dB for over 24 hours. Simple Solutions to Protect Hearing Avoid excessive noise exposure by avoiding loud environments, wearing earplugs/ear muffs, and keeping the volume within low or moderate ranges on personal devices. If you or a loved one experiences hearing loss, contact us at Pure Sound Hearing for a hearing test and consultation. |
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