The AudioNotch Tinnitus Treatment Blog

Please note: the following information does not constitute professional medical advice, and is provided for general informational purposes only. Please speak to your doctor if you have tinnitus.

If I had to pick a song title to describe hearing loss associated tinnitus, it would be Huey Lewis’ Stuck With You. The song might not be a fit, but the title definitely is. Huey Lewis might even agree, as he is one of several prominent musicians to suffer from both hearing loss and chronic tinnitus.

A Sad Thought

Huey Lewis has brought a lot of joy to people. Songs like Workin’ for a Livin’, (She’s) Some Kind of Wonderful, and Back to the Future’s Back In Time are justifiably considered classics. So there’s a genuine sense of loss and frustration as one realizes that this talented, capable front man for Huey Lewis and the News has lost a significant portion of his hearing. For someone like Huey Lewis hearing loss has to be an utterly infuriating condition.

One symptom he has discussed in relation to his hearing loss is that he has developed tinnitus as well. Tinnitus is a ringing in the ears with no active external cause. It can develop as a result of long exposure to loud sounds. Even a single concert can cause damage to the ears that takes years to manifest as tinnitus. There are very few treatments for it, unfortunately.

An Ounce of Prevention

Fortunately, to Huey Lewis hearing loss presented a challenge rather than simply an unbearable condition. He is a supporter of HEAR: Hearing Education and Awareness for Rockers. This organization seeks to educate people in the music community, both performers and audience members, about the potential risks caused by exposure to loud music. They also promote access to hearing aids and other relief devices to alleviate suffering caused by hearing related ailments.

Saves A Pound of (no) Cure

The case of Huey Lewis hearing loss and tinnitus is a symbol of how artists put their health at risk for the sake of the art and their fans. It’s a humbling thought when someone is injured, in any way, in an attempt to make other people happy. It isn’t, or at least shouldn’t be, any less inspiring that Huey Lewis and other musicians have done so through their performances. What happened to them can’t be treated, their hearing is effectively gone in many cases. This is absolutely the opposite of cool, and should be something that everyone seeking a musical career considers carefully.