Nearly 30 years ago, Lewis completely lost his hearing in his right ear. It “freaked” him out, but he eventually came to terms with it and adapted to relying solely on his right ear.
“And then seven years ago, my left ear failed right before a gig in New Orleans, and it was a horrible thing. I just went on a stage and I couldn’t hear anything,” Lewis recalled. “It was devastating.”
He was diagnosed with Meniere’s disease, a condition of the inner ear that causes severe vertigo and hearing loss.
For six months, Lewis tried anything he was told could improve his hearing. Renowned ENTs. Acupuncture. Chiropractic treatments. Low salt and organic diets. He exhausted all his options, and nothing cured his condition.
“I can’t identify pitch anymore. It’s very frustrating. Tonight, I’ll have a hard time recognizing the songs that are played. I will be able to, because I know the tempos, I know the beat, you know, but it’s (been) a tough pill to swallow.”
Now, when music is playing, Lewis only hears “noise distortion.”
Make all the American Psycho jokes you want, but the man was an amazing performer with a terrific voice, so this makes me really sad.
Meniere’s is a bitch. I have been diagnosed with it as well. Just biding my time, hoping to find something that works to stave it off.
My dad has been able to use some bone conduction headphones to listen to music and things like that despite his condition. Perhaps that will help you as well. I keep telling him to try to find some bone conduction hearing aids but since he only has hearing loss in one ear he seems largely content to tough it out.
Bone conduction headphones worked for me as well. Complete night and day difference for me.
Funny enough I have a pair of shokz. I like them in general, but they don’t help me when the symptoms kick in. I can actually use them tell when my ear is plugged up due to the condition, or due to a cold or whatever lol