There are over 10 million people in the UK suffering from some kind of hearing loss – that’s one in six of the population.
It’s thought that around 800,000 are severely or profoundly deaf and about two million people using hearing aids. These are surprisingly high statistics, but no one is immune to ear-related ailments as even the world’s rich and famous experience auditory problems including the following five movie stars.
Rob Lowe
Well known for his roles in hit movies such as The Outsiders, Oxford Blues, About Last Night, Wayne’s World and Austin Powers, Rob Lowe has enjoyed a dazzling career despite being completely deaf in his right ear – an ailment caused by undiagnosed mumps when he was a baby.
Speaking to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Lowe said: “Loud restaurants drive me ballistic. I live in a mono world. I wish I could [hear in] stereo. But other than that, I don’t think about my hearing loss.”
Marlee Matlin
Deaf since she was 18 months old, Marlee Matlin has not let her hearing problems get in the way of her career. Not only has she appeared in a host of popular TV shows and movies including How to Make Love Like an Englishman and Foreclosed, but she’s also won many awards including an Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role for Children of a Lesser God (1986).
Her positive outlook on life is reflected in her views about sign language: “The opportunity to communicate in sign language, one of the most beautiful languages in the world, is an advantage that deaf people enjoy,” she said. “It’s a language that combines several elements at once with a simple hand movement and facial expression: meaning, affect, time and duration. It’s just so beautiful that printed or spoken words can’t begin to describe it.”
Russell Harvard
Russell Harvard is an American actor, who despite being able to hear some sounds using a hearing device, identifies himself as deaf and considers American Sign Language to be his first language. This inspirational actor has not only appeared in popular movies such as Paul Thomas Andersons’ There Will Be Blood in which he starred alongside Daniel Day-Lewis, but he also got to play deaf assassin Mr. Wrench in the recent TV miniseries, Fargo.
Speaking about his role in Fargo, Harvard said: “This character is really nice because he doesn’t have to use his voice; the communication skills are just through signing. And Mr. Numbers interprets for me in the show, which doesn’t really happen often on TV, so that’s nice.”
Halle Berry
She’s one of the most beautiful and talented actresses in the world who has starred in many film hits including X-Men and Monster’s Ball – but Oscar winner Halle Berry also suffers from hearing loss. In fact she has around an 80 per cent loss of hearing in her left ear, which was brought about by domestic violence.
An ex-boyfriend caused the damage by striking her repeatedly across the head and Berry now often talks about her hearing loss to help break the cycle of domestic violence for other women.
Robert Redford
While filming the critically acclaimed movie, All Is Lost back in 2013, Robert Redford insisted on doing all his own stunts. Taking on the role of a lone sailor stranded in the Indian Ocean, he was submerged into a large tank of water day after day and sprayed from an off-camera hose. This unfortunately led to a severe ear infection, which made him lose 60 per cent hearing in his left ear.
Hearing problems are surprisingly common amongst people from all walks of life, which is why it’s a good idea to have your ears and hearing checked regularly before damage becomes irreparable.