| Some of the best musicians in the world had deafness | | | | over exposure to loud music through the headphones |
| problems. If you think that is not possible, here are a | | | | and during concerts. |
| few names you have probably heard of. | | | | On the American front, you have Brian Wilson who |
| The first is Ludwig van Beethoven. You know, that | | | | happens to be a songwriter, bassist, and singer for the |
| classical German composer and pianist. At the age of | | | | Beach Boys. What makes this person different is the |
| 26, he began to lose his hearing since he suffered | | | | fact that he was deaf in one ear not because of any |
| from a severe form of tinnitus which made it difficult | | | | illness. This happened when his father hit him on the |
| for him to perceive and appreciate music. | | | | head with a board while he was still young. Like the |
| Although there was no high tech gadgets back then to | | | | other musicians, this did not stop him from being part of |
| help with his problem, he used a special rod which he | | | | the one best recording band's in music history. |
| attached to the soundboard on a piano that he could | | | | One song diva, movie star and political activist who |
| bit so the vibrations would then transfer from the piano | | | | also has deafness problems is Barbra Streisand. At |
| to his jaw. This was just one of the many hearing aids | | | | the age of 7, her doctor diagnosed her with tinnitus. But |
| he used even when he was almost totally deaf. | | | | as we all know, she still pursued her singing career and |
| But this did not hinder Beethoven from composing. To | | | | even did a few films. |
| this day, musicians and music lovers alike still | | | | Eric Clapton, known guitarist and singer also has |
| appreciate his work as a talented composer and | | | | deafness problems. He like other musicians believes |
| pianist. | | | | that this was caused by the loud speakers used during |
| Let's go forward almost about 200 years and surely | | | | rock concerts. The sad part is that whether it is acute, |
| those who are reading this are familiar with the group | | | | mild or severe, permanent damage has been done |
| the Beatles. Sir George Henry Martin who is a British | | | | and there is no way to reverse the symptoms. |
| record producer, arranger and composer also had | | | | The good news is that there are now treatments |
| hearing problems. | | | | available but its success has varying degrees of |
| He was often referred to as the Fifth Beatle because | | | | reliability. |
| he was either the producer or co-producer of all the | | | | The musicians that were mentioned here were not |
| Beatle's original records and played the piano in some | | | | deaf when they were born. They lost it later on in life |
| of their songs. Unlike Beethoven, he retired from music | | | | but even with such a handicap, this has not stopped |
| due to hearing loss. | | | | them from writing, producing or playing great music for |
| Another musician from Great Britain is the singer Peter | | | | audiences. If you know someone who has deafness |
| Townshend. If you watch CSI, the soundtrack of that | | | | problems, you can still help them be successful in life |
| series was from this rock group. Just like Beethoven, | | | | with a little encouragement. |
| Townshend suffered from tinnitus as a direct result of | | | | |