What caused Rush Linbaugh's hearing loss?
Since Rush Limbaugh’s announcement concerning his hearing loss, I have had many people ask me the above question. Many of his listeners have noticed a change in his voice. Mr. Limbaugh’s physicians announced that his rapid-onset hearing loss is a result of autoimmune inner ear disease (AIED). Mr. Limbaugh has a profound hearing loss in his left ear, and severe hearing loss in his right ear. Mr. Limbaugh does not display all of the symptoms associated with AIED, but he has suffered rapidly progressive hearing loss since May 2001, and is being treated with medication. If the medication does not improve his hearing, then he may receive a cochlear implant to enhance the hearing in his poorer left ear.
Mr. Limbaugh is using technology to continue his radio program. The studio transcribers provide him with written transcripts on monitors that display callers’ questions in "real time," while computer screens display different colors indicating the tone or mood of each caller’s question. He plans to continue with his show, which is broadcast on 600 stations nationwide. |