Rush Limbaugh is Deaf

Rush Limbaugh, one of the most popular radio personalities in the world, told his listeners on Monday that he is "for all practical purposes deaf." The news came as a huge shock to the vast majority of his fans, some of who had been contacting the show to report a subtle change in the pitch of Limbaugh's voice over the past several months. Limbaugh explained that he suddenly lost hearing in his left ear in May and the hearing in his right ear has been steadily deteriorating since that time.

"I cannot hear radio, TV or music . . . [but] I can hear people if they're loud enough and close enough," said Limbaugh, who also noted that he had been able to hear, until recently, with the help of a very powerful hearing aid. Limbaugh has not disclosed the doctors' theories regarding the reasons for his hearing loss, although he has been clear in stating that the disorder is not hereditary. It is not uncommon for radio personalities and disc jockeys to experience hearing loss after years of wearing headphones during their shows, but Limbaugh has declined to address the possible cause.

The conservative syndicated radio host rose to national prominence during the years of the Clinton presidency, which never seemed to lack political fodder for Republican voices such as Limbaugh's. Rush warned his listeners that he may be off the air more frequently in the future, as he pursues possible treatments for his hearing loss and develops new ways of communicating over the air without the ability to hear his callers.