The celebrity circle at the Better Hearing Institute
E-hearingaids.com is a useful resource for learning more about hearing aid options, but what if you want to know about hearing loss in general? We have some articles on this subject, but another great resource is the Better Hearing Institute (www.betterhearing.org/). The organization was founded in 1973 to help educate people about this under-reported issue. One of the great things about BHI is the number of faces you might recognize in their public service announcements. Over 60 notable Americans suffering the effects of hearing loss (either personally or through friends) have been associated with the organization.Lou Ferrigno is best known for playing the Hulk in the CBS television series The Incredible Hulk (1978-1982). Ferrigno suffered hearing loss from an infant ear infection, but that didn’t stop him from winning major bodybuilding titles and appearing in a number of television shows and films, including Sinbad of the Seven Seas, Hercules, The King of Queens, and Reno 911!. The celebrity has been associated with the BHI for over 25 years, and says, “It takes time to overcome a handicap. There are ups and downs and you can never be a quitter. I believe the maxim that you only get out of life what you put into it.”Leslie Nielsen passed away in 2010 after years of serving as both a first-rate comedian and a BHI advocate. His first appearance was in the 1956 thriller Ransom!, where he starred as newspaper reporter Charles Telfer. However, he became known first for his role in 1956′s Forbidden Planet, which kick started his dramatic career, and then in the 1980 spoof Airplane!, which did the same for his comedy career. While his face is familiar to millions, not everyone knows that Nielsen was legally deaf and wore a hearing aid for most of his life. He often appeared in honor of BHI, and also participated in the organization’s “Help America Hear” golf tournament. Mark Herndon was a drummer for the southern rock group Alabama, formed in 1972. The band’s blend of country music, rock, gospel, and pop was a big hit with listeners, and the group has had over 30 number one country records. However, the band’s success did take its toll on Herndon, who said, “Before learning about hearing protection, I suffered a hearing loss from years of performing as a drummer. That’s why I’m now a strong advocate of hearing protection.” His work for BHI is a great reminder to modern teens of the long-term effects that loud music can have on their hearing. These are just a few of the names that have been associated with the Institute. Others include Reggie Williams, Sally Field, and even Ronald Reagan.