Hearing loss is one of the most common medical issues affecting over 50 million people in the U.S. It should not be a surprise that hearing loss has even reached the highest office in the land: the President of the United States.
Our first president, George Washington, was exposed to frequent blasts from rifles and canons during his service in the Virginia Militia, Continental Army, and U.S. Army. He reported later in life that it was difficult to follow conversations, denoting he likely had hearing difficulty.
Thomas Jefferson was an avid hunter and lived in a time before any type of hearing protection was routinely used. With this frequent exposure to shooting, he experienced hearing loss. Invoking what we know today as the “cocktail party effect,” or the difficulty to hear and understand a speaker when background noise is present, Jefferson noted that he became confused in conversations when voices crossed each other.
Ronald Reagan was first fitted with hearing aids while Governor of California. He reported that his hearing loss was due to the discharge of a .38 caliber pistol close to his ear during his film career. When he was elected President, he became the first to wear hearing aids while in office, and I was fortunate to be a part of the fitting in 1988 at the White House. The fitting was conducted in the medical complex of the White House and later moved to the Oval Office so President Reagan could test his hearing aids while speaking on the phone. Even presidents need follow-up visits, and during one of these, we took new ear impressions. I explained to the President’s secret service the process of mixing the material and how it would be inserted into the President’s ears. The secret service agent thought for a minute and said I could only complete one ear at a time, as the President would need the other ear available in case he was needed for an emergency phone call or meeting. I was incredibly surprised and impressed that the secret service agent was this thorough in quickly thinking through any situation that the President may be needed, but that is part of their training and job. President Reagan was open about his hearing loss and has been credited with increasing public awareness of both hearing loss and the benefits of treatment. In fact, after President Reagan was fit with hearing aids, he officially declared May as Better Hearing and Speech Month which we still celebrate today.
More recently, Bill Clinton was fit with hearing aids in 1997. His hearing loss was attributed to playing saxophone and years-long exposure to music. President Clinton has encouraged people to get their hearing checked and promoted the benefits that come from wearing hearing aids.
So even if you are not the president, hearing loss can impact your ability to communicate with the world around you. Whether addressing the nation or catching up with friends and family, if you are having any difficulty hearing, contact a licensed hearing care professional to discuss your needs and get a comprehensive hearing test.
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