# Rush is DEAF??? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 8, 2001, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rush-is-deaf/86167 "2001-10-08T19:22:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Atreyu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5e9695/32.png) [@Atreyu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atreyu)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2001, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rush-is-deaf/86167/21 "2001-10-09T03:17:49Z")
Good thinking, **Neurodoc**. Except that Rush Limbaugh reported that the hearing in both of his ears have been virtually destroyed. It is my understanding that bilateral acoustic neuromas are quite rare. As far as I know, the most common reason for acoustic neuromas occurring on _both_ of the eighth cranial nerves would be Type II Neurofibramatosis. I’m betting that the doctors have already used MRI evaluations to rule out that possibility in Mr. Limbaugh. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2001, 10:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rush-is-deaf/86167/22 "2001-10-09T10:52:51Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mr.Zambezi \* > I would imagine that the problem would be enunciation and volume control. I imagine that the callers word could be transcribed. But it is tough to talk when you can’t hear yourself. This might not be a problem this week, but a year down the road it may. I used to have a boss who was (and still is, for that matter) deaf. Like, completely deaf with no usable hearing and no benefit from hearing aids. When I met her she had been deaf for about 20 years (lost her hearing in an accident in her 20’s) She didn’t have a problem with volume control, except when there was a lot of background noise (which she couldn’t hear, of course) and you had to ask her to speak louder so you could hear her. She also did quite a few speaking engagements every year, in front of large audiences, and took questions from the audience. She did visit a voice coach regularly. (She was also learning to speak and lip read Italian, too - one of those overahievers) When speaking in front of an audience she would have a couple of sign interpreters who would help her with soundchecks as well as interpret what audience members were saying. She would also do telephone calls with a speaker phone. A sign language interpreter relays what comes over the speaker and she does her own speaking in reply. Also leaves voice mails on other people’s phones. Not a huge deal, really. If Rush is permanently deaf he probably will need to work with a voice coach over time to make sure his speech stays clear. He might use some sort of speech-to-text system for callers, at least at first, because it does take time to learn to lip read and, if he chooses, to use sign language. Truth is, it can be just as hard to learn sign language as any other language and, given his age, he may or may not become fluent in that language. Anyhow, it is quite possible for him to continue to make a living with his voice, even if he can’t hear himself use it. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2001, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rush-is-deaf/86167/23 "2001-10-09T12:44:14Z")
Remember that his show is on a delay of about 18 sec. It might be increased to allow relay of questions. That extra time could be eaten up as the caller’s message is transcribed and Rush reads it. Time can be added back in at “profit center timeouts” (commercials). The only thing that I see could stop him (well actually 2) is that he no longer has the feedback of his voice so that could slip and since he can’t hear tv or radio some of his info is cut off. I just hope it doesn’t get to a sad situation where stations start dropping him and he insists on continuing (not knowing when to quit). ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2001, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rush-is-deaf/86167/24 "2001-10-09T14:21:23Z")
Actually, to be correct, he is deafened. Like me. Once hearing now deaf. I, too, have a rather deaf accent which comes about because i can’t hear soft sounds, so I often don’t say them. It depends on whether I practice or not. Anyway, Rush has a lot of money behind him, Im sure he can get the best transcriber that money can buy ($150 an hour). ---
**Author:** ![Jinx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2001, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rush-is-deaf/86167/25 "2001-10-09T15:12:34Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by pldennison \* > \*\*I don’t see why his career would have to be over. As long as he can still speak clearly, a radio career is not at all out of the question. He might not be able to take live callers anymore (unless there is some speech-to-text device that would make such a thing possible for him), but he can still speak into a microphone, look at VU meters, and take visual cues from a producer. > > The word is “deaf,” not “death,” after all. \*\* You are correct, and more power to those who strive to overcome such physical barriers. But, I think it would be very difficult for a man of his position to accept a “new” career operating like that. He’ll probably elect to retire. And, I agree - it’s a crime this should have to happen to anyone of us, regardless of his contraversial and often seemingly outright “anatognizing” views. Why such tragic things do not come upon bin Laden and his followers is just beyond me! - Jinx ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2001, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rush-is-deaf/86167/26 "2001-10-09T16:08:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Quasimodem \* > **Rush is DEAF???** So I hear. Oops. That was bad. ---
**Author:** ![OxyMoron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e9a140/32.png) [@OxyMoron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OxyMoron)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2001, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rush-is-deaf/86167/27 "2001-10-09T17:43:15Z")
Several years ago I remember hearing the president of Gallaudet College speak - he also is deafened. It showed that with memory and coaching one can speak beautifully. Perhaps Rush will focus on personal engagements, while reducing his radio time. I disagree with the man intensely, but when I read in today’s Times his comment that he can no longer hear music, I felt quite a bit of sympathy. ---
**Author:** ![Neurodoc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/848f3c/32.png) [@Neurodoc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neurodoc)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2001, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rush-is-deaf/86167/28 "2001-10-10T02:45:52Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Atreyu \* > \*\*Good thinking, **Neurodoc**. Except that Rush Limbaugh reported that the hearing in both of his ears have been virtually destroyed. It is my understanding that bilateral acoustic neuromas are quite rare. \*\* I heard that it was one of his ears (the left?) that lost hearing…and that was rather suddenly. Bilateral AN is uncommon. But any sudden hearing loss rquires an MRI or CT w/contrast to rule out AN. Other causes of sudden hearing loss are infection (usually viral) and stroke. A brainstem stroke can lead to sudden hearing loss, and if it involves the trapezoid body, may be binaural. I’m sure Rush has a good medical insurance policy, and I’m sure the approriate tests will be done. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rush-is-deaf/86167.md?page=1)