Sometimes, people with progressive hearing loss feel like they’re alone in dealing with their problems. But that’s definitely not the case. According to estimates, there are 460 million people with hearing loss. Among them are many celebrities and stars. One of them is Miroslav Nemec, who is likely known to more than just crime drama fans. As Chief Inspector Ivo Batic on the TV series *Tatort*, he upholds law and order on the streets of Munich. The actor and father of two wears hearing aids and is even a brand ambassador for his hearing systems.

Do you remember the Incredible Hulk, a superhero based on a comic book character? Lou Ferrigno, the actor who played this green giant with special powers, wears hearing aids. He lost 80 percent of his hearing due to a middle ear infection he suffered as a child.

But even in the depths of unexplored space, there are hearing aid users. For example, William Shatner—aka James T. Kirk, captain of the USS Enterprise—lost some of his hearing due to a simulated explosion during filming. Leonard Nimoy, known as Mr. Spock, also lost some of his hearing in that blast.

Movie sets generally seem to be a dangerous place for ears. The famous actor Jackie Chan, for example, has had hearing loss in his right ear since a failed stunt. He has worn hearing aids ever since. Nevertheless, the Asian actor went on to achieve a breakthrough in America and around the world.

Whoopi Goldberg also wears hearing aids. Her progressive hearing loss is due to noise exposure. The famous actor Robert Redford, on the other hand, suffers from hearing loss caused by an ear infection. But the well-known Western hero and 40th President of the United States, Ronald Reagan, also suffered from progressive hearing loss. He treated the effects of a noise-induced hearing injury with hearing aids, which he wore with pride. Former Minister Günther Beckstein is similarly proud of his cochlear implant. Hearing loss doesn’t spare even the nobility: King Juan Carlos I of Spain, for example, is hard of hearing and wears hearing aids.

Hearing aids are an important topic not only behind the scenes but also in front of the camera. For example, the Cologne-based “Tatort” series addresses deafness in its episode “Schützlinge” and, in this unusual episode, highlights the obstacles that people with hearing loss face every day.

In *Creed*, the sequel to *Rocky*, Bianca Taylor—who wears hearing aids—and her progressive hearing loss also play an important role.

The fictional biopic *Immortal Beloved* (German title: *Meine unsterbliche Geliebte*) tells the story of Ludwig van Beethoven’s life. Naturally, the famous composer’s gradual hearing loss is also addressed in the film.

The topic of hearing loss is tackled in a rather “scary” way in the horror film *A Quiet Place*. In it, a father tries to get his deaf daughter’s cochlear implants to work.

The Oscar-winning film *Sound and Fury* takes a more realistic approach to the topic of cochlear implants. It explores the different perspectives within a family and their decision about whether their children should receive an implant.

The popular Disney animated film *Up* shows that hearing loss doesn’t have to be a heavy topic. The main character Carl’s hearing aids are repeatedly the source of great jokes and highlight the film hero’s unique qualities.

In *A Star Is Born*, Bradley Cooper plays a musician who is slowly losing his hearing and suffers from tinnitus. In real life, too, many musicians suffer from tinnitus and progressive hearing loss.
For example, the constant ringing is a constant companion for Campino, the lead singer of Die Toten Hosen; Chris Martin, the lead singer of Coldplay; Lou Bega; Phil Collins; Sting; Bono; and Neil Young. Singer Brian Johnson even left his former band, AC/DC, due to sudden hearing loss and his progressive hearing loss. Tinnitus and hearing loss often occur together. That’s why hearing aids help with tinnitus. They provide the brain with new auditory signals that cancel out or suppress the tinnitus sounds. Hearing aids have long since ceased to be a source of stigma. Instead, they are practical, high-tech companions for everyday life. So if you notice a decline in your hearing, consult your ENT doctor or hearing care professional. Hearing aids and cochlear implants restore a significant portion of quality of life not only to movie heroes, but to you as well.

One of the most famous composers, Ludwig van Beethoven, suffered from progressive hearing loss and tinnitus as early as age 28. Back then, the medical treatments available today were not yet available to Beethoven. Since then, hearing medicine has made enormous strides. Find out whether Ludwig van Beethoven would be able to hear again today in our article: Beethoven’s Hearing Loss.