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UPDATE: Limbaugh's Hearing Restored
CNSNews.com ^ | January 17, 2002 | Scott Hogenson

Posted on 01/18/2002 10:19:38 AM PST by Moosejaw

2nd Add: Includes disease background.

(CNSNews.com) - Radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh, who suffered a virtually total loss of hearing last year, has had much of his hearing restored, according to his brother.

World Net Daily columnist David Limbaugh Thursday said a special hearing implant was activated that day and that he had a telephone conversation with the broadcaster.

"About a month ago, he had a surgery which went very well, but we didn't know whether it was going to work," said the younger Limbaugh. "I got this call (today) on my cell phone and I picked it up and started listening and he said 'David? David?' I knew it was Rush, but I paused because I never expected him to call."

"I started talking to him and he could actually hear me," said David. "We carried on a conversation. I was just stupefied by it. It was amazing. He could actually hear me."

David Limbaugh made the announcement in Washington, D.C. Thursday night while attending the Media Research Center annual "Dishonors Awards" for bias in broadcast news.

The syndicated broadcaster announced October 8 that he had lost his hearing, and that he had known of the hearing loss since May 29, when doctors told him he was deaf in his left ear.

Doctors tried an unsuccessful drug therapy in an attempt to restore the talk show host's hearing, and a cochlear implant was eventually installed. The device is designed to send signals around the damaged part of the ear and deliver electrical impulses to the brain, restoring hearing.

No medical prognosis of Rush Limbaugh's condition was available Thursday evening, but David Limbaugh said his brother's wife estimated that "he could hear about 80 percent already. That's not formal or official, but just her estimation," said David.

"Two cell phones - you know how hard it is to hear - and yet, we conducted a conversation," said David. "That's great news and we thank God for it."

Despite the hearing loss, the broadcaster continued hosting his weekday talk show, which is heard on some 600 radio stations nationwide, the exception being periodic absences for treatment of his ailment.

Rush suffers from autoimmune inner-ear disease, which doctors say affects about 20,000 of the estimated 30 million Americans who suffer considerable loss of hearing.

He was able to continue his on-air work by having listener calls transcribed, and said he was able to detect caller pauses by watching the VU meter indicators in his studio.


TOPICS: Miscellaneous; News/Current Events
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1 posted on 01/18/2002 10:19:38 AM PST by Moosejaw
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To: Moosejaw, sungirl
GOOD NEWS!!! still praying for ya RUSH!!!!
2 posted on 01/18/2002 10:22:50 AM PST by Texaggie79
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To: Moosejaw
Awesome. Rush and O'Reilly ruling afternoon radio. O'Reilly and Keyes on TV at night. It doesn't get any better than this.
3 posted on 01/18/2002 10:23:12 AM PST by Aquinasfan
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To: Aquinasfan
O'Reilly is like a vicious dog, that you keep as a guard dog. But he will just as soon bite you if you got in front of him.
4 posted on 01/18/2002 10:25:15 AM PST by Texaggie79
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To: Moosejaw
Great news Rush. God blessed you and your family big time! Congratualations.
5 posted on 01/18/2002 10:27:18 AM PST by A CA Guy
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To: Moosejaw
I'm looking forward to hearing him back on the air for his own report. Gotta love this man.
6 posted on 01/18/2002 10:27:39 AM PST by The Mayor
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To: Moosejaw
"I started talking to him and he could actually hear me," said David. "We carried on a conversation. I was just stupefied by it. It was amazing. He could actually hear me."

From personal experience, there is nothing quite like the sound, sight and touch of a loved one when those senses have been restored.

7 posted on 01/18/2002 10:28:33 AM PST by N. Theknow
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To: Texaggie79
O'Reily will kind of flop on radio I bet. We'll see. It wouldn't be his venue I believe.
8 posted on 01/18/2002 10:28:44 AM PST by A CA Guy
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To: Moosejaw
Good job Rush! What a miracle this implant is.
9 posted on 01/18/2002 10:30:43 AM PST by monkeyshine
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To: N. Theknow
From personal experience, there is nothing quite like the sound, sight and touch of a loved one when those senses have been restored.

So being Monica Lewinski is real touchy and feely there should be an overwhelming change for her if she ever came to her senses! LOL

Great post and a good point.

10 posted on 01/18/2002 10:31:50 AM PST by A CA Guy
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To: Moosejaw
No one is more deserving. Too many people who faced this would have wallowed in despair. Rush rolled up his sleeves and got on with his life.

Watch out, Dennis Miller. Monday Night Football might yet have a prayer of having a real commentator rather than a buffoon.

11 posted on 01/18/2002 10:39:38 AM PST by Exigence
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To: A CA Guy
While all this is great, he is still DEAF. He cannot hear at night when he turns off his processor and goes to sleep. Don't go thinking this is a miracle cure...implants are commonplace now for many Americanss who have never had hearing. Rush is blessed that his implant is working.
12 posted on 01/18/2002 10:39:57 AM PST by merry10
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To: Moosejaw
Outstanding news, thanks for the post.
13 posted on 01/18/2002 10:46:20 AM PST by ThinkDifferent
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To: Moosejaw
I'm not surprised to see this. His voice sounded great when he was on earlier this week. I suspected that they might have "flipped the switch," so to speak.
14 posted on 01/18/2002 10:50:13 AM PST by j.havenfarm
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To: jla
Good news :-)
15 posted on 01/18/2002 10:53:18 AM PST by Happygal
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To: Moosejaw
That's great news. I haven't been able to listen much this year because we're homeschooling two middle schoolers and I don't want to distract them by listening to the radio. So I listen while we're having lunch and they're not working.

I did notice that Roger Hedgecock was on yesterday and today. Obviously Rush was at the doctor's yesterday getting the implant hooked up. I have a friend who's son had this done last year. It worked wonderfully until there was a glitch in the workings of it. He has to have surgery again, but they have great hopes for it.

Good Luck, Rush and God Bless!!

16 posted on 01/18/2002 10:55:54 AM PST by SuziQ
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To: Moosejaw
bump
17 posted on 01/18/2002 10:57:16 AM PST by t-shirt
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To: Moosejaw
YYYYYEEEEHHHHHAAAWWWW!! Ride'em Cowboy!
18 posted on 01/18/2002 11:01:17 AM PST by RoseofTexas
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To: Moosejaw
Great news!!! We said a few prayers for the Rushmo in this house!!! He is amazing.. he did very well considering his hearing loss, and you couldn't tell he was deaf during his broadcasts unless you followed him so closely over the years,. that you just knew his style. That is a feat in itself.

I'm so glad for him, so thankful he is getting his hearing back. He loves music. I can't imagine him not broadcasting either. Now he can hear his lovely wifes voice,..broadcast..and listen to music and the wonderous sounds we all take for granted.

Megga Ditto's to Rush!! ;o)

19 posted on 01/18/2002 11:03:19 AM PST by Vets_Husband_and_Wife
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To: Exigence
Watch out, Dennis Miller. Monday Night Football might yet have a prayer of having a real commentator rather than a buffoon.

Actually Miller is starting to do a decent job. Maybe hanging out with regular joes at football venues changed him.

20 posted on 01/18/2002 11:03:35 AM PST by Extremely Extreme Extremist
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