Many people advocate for better hearing loss awareness, but few bring the clout of Paul Simon. Paul began losing his hearing about three years ago, but it took a further step down in his left ear earlier this year. Losing hearing is traumatic for anyone, but perhaps even more so for a musician whose life’s work revolves around sound.
Rather than hide behind stigma or shame, Paul Simon has decided to use his personal experiences with hearing loss for good. Through a series of small-group performances and a media press tour, Paul is helping not only raise awareness about the challenges of hearing loss but also educating the public about the scientific research underway that gives him hope.
Thank you Paul Simon for the work you are doing to beat back the stigma of hearing loss and for promoting Stanford’s Initiative to Cure Hearing Loss (SICHL), a group of scientists at Stanford University who are working together to develop biological treatments and cures for hearing loss.
Role Models Can Break Hearing Loss Stigma
Hearing loss stigma often prevents people from acknowledging their hearing loss, seeking treatment for it, or even mentioning it. This was certainly the case for me early on in my hearing loss journey. But, well-known role models like Paul Simon who openly share their experiences with hearing loss can help change all that.
If Paul Simon uses hearing aids, maybe it isn’t so bad for me to do so as well.
Learn more about Paul Simon’s hearing loss journey in the clips below. And more about SICHL in this interview with SICHL director Dr. Tina Stankovic.
CBS News
90 Seconds with Lisa Kim
Hearing Loss Research for Treatments and Cures
Supporting scientific research about hearing loss is very important to me. Only through research, will scientists discover new ways to prevent, treat, and cure hearing loss for the 1.5 billion people worldwide who have some degree of hearing loss today. This number is expected to increase to 2.5 billion by 2050.
Scientific research is often conducted in silos, with each researcher focused on a specific and separate experimental question. But SICHL is different. I have been impressed with the way SICHL researchers work as a team, sharing expertise, methods, and physical plant resources to accelerate the timetable to workable solutions.
Much work remains in the search for biological treatments and cures for hearing loss, but progress is ongoing. I encourage anyone who is touched by hearing loss to consider supporting this important work in whatever way is most meaningful to you.
Readers, do you support scientific research into hearing loss treatments and cures?
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Thanks Paul!
Thanks indeed!