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Limbaught Tells Public
He's Deaf
Wednesday
October 10, 2001
Everyday, people tune in to hear what Rush Limbaugh has to say. This week his words sent shock waves to his 22 million listeners. He said, “This past summer I lost my hearing. I am now, for all practical purposes, deaf."
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The conservative radio talk show host lost his hearing in just three months. He is completely deaf in his left ear and 80 percent gone in his right. Hearing aids and medication aren’t helping. Limbaugh won't say why he's going deaf. One speculation is the constant noise from headphones. But ear, nose and throat specialist Dr. Marc Kearner says that because Limbaugh’s hearing went so quick there may be other causes.
Dr. Kearner says, “One of the potential causes is an auto-immune hearing loss in which the body attacks it's own inner ear cells.”
The Doctor says this loss will definitely affect his most precious asset, his voice. Dr. Kearner says, “It's very difficult to modulate your voice and show expression with your voice.”
Fans started noticing something was wrong. Los Angeles radio station KFI AM 640 broadcasts Limbaugh’s show and got hundreds of calls and emails from concerned listeners.
Veteran radio host Bill Handle says it's amazing Limbaugh has been able to continue. He says, “If anybody can do it, Rush can. He has been doing it for the past several months.”
Limbaugh has said, “I have no intention of stopping what I do. Even though I can't hear, I can still communicate."
Limbaugh says hearing aids don't really help, and so far medication isn't helping either.
Despite that, he plans to continue his talk show.
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Rush Limbaugh