Rush Limbaugh was a conservative figure in American radio who had built a considerable following over his decades on the air. His show, "The Rush Limbaugh Show," was immensely successful and is often cited among the most popular programs in talk radio.
"The Rush Limbaugh Show" aired from 1988 until 2021, the year it ended with Limbaugh's passing at age 70. Throughout those years, he faced his share of difficulties, related not only to some of his controversial positions but also to his health.
One of these concerned his hearing, and any listener of Limbaugh likely knows that he wore a cochlear implant. Here is an overview of the reasons for this implant, what a cochlear implant actually does, and other reasons why one might be fitted.
What is a cochlear implant?
A cochlear implant is a hearing aid device that allows people with severe forms of hearing loss to regain the ability to perceive sound. It consists of two main parts: the unit implanted inside the body and the external unit.
Let's take a closer look at these components and how they work together to help people suffering from severe hearing loss.
The internal unit
The implanted unit includes two main elements. The first is an electrode array, the second a receiver. It is this internal component that gives the cochlear implant its name, as this part of the device is implanted into the cochlea.
The cochlea is a snail-shaped structure located in the inner ear. Its role is to convert vibrations into nerve signals sent to the brain.
The electrode array is inserted into the cochlea, while the receiver is placed just under the surface of the skull. A wire connects the two pieces.
The external unit
The other component of the cochlear implant is the external unit. This contains a microphone, a processor, and a transmitter. The external component is responsible for converting sounds into a signal then transmitted to the internal unit, which then stimulates the inner ear.
How does a cochlear implant work?
A cochlear implant is essentially a hearing device that bypasses normal hearing. The external unit's microphone generates electrical patterns from the noises in your environment. The sounds thus captured are then processed by the processor, which shapes them to stimulate the cochlea.
The signal then leaves the external unit via the transmitter. The implanted receiver picks up this signal and sends it to the electrode array, which electrically stimulates the cochlea.
What sound do cochlear implants produce?
Cochlear implants are an excellent way to regain the ability to detect sounds in one's environment, but they in no way replace natural hearing identically. Often, people who opt for a cochlear implant do so as a last resort, in order to maintain some awareness of sound.
Cochlear implants are quite widespread: some people have had them since childhood, others have received them later in life. For those who heard normally for most of their lives before being implanted, the change can be significant.
Many people implanted as adults describe their new technological ears as producing a sound that is slightly distorted, robotic, or metallic. While this can be confusing at first, most get used to it over time and manage to converse more easily. As technology advances, the sound quality of cochlear implants is also expected to improve.
Rush Limbaugh and his hearing loss
Rush Limbaugh launched his radio show at 37. Over the following decades, his audience continued to grow. But in the early 2000s, as his fame grew, he was diagnosed with a rare autoimmune disease: Autoimmune Inner Ear Disease (AIED). By 2001, Limbaugh was virtually deaf, despite medication and other therapies attempted.
The condition Limbaugh suffered from is very rare, and many people know little about it.
Here is an overview of what an autoimmune disease is, how AIED affects the ears, and why the cochlear implant emerged as the best solution for Limbaugh.
What is an autoimmune disease?
Autoimmune diseases are a category of conditions caused by an immune system that attacks itself. The primary function of the immune system is to identify foreign invaders, such as a virus or bacteria, and eliminate them through an immune response.
In an autoimmune disease, the immune system begins to target healthy tissues in the body, which end up destroyed, resulting in a loss of function.
Among the autoimmune diseases you may have already heard of are type 1 diabetes, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, and rheumatoid arthritis. These diseases are relatively common, whereas AIED is a rare autoimmune condition that affects a much smaller proportion of people.
Autoimmune Inner Ear Disease (AIED)
AIED is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system begins to target the tissues of the inner ear. Once the body misidentifies these tissues, there is not much that can be done to stop it from attacking itself. One method that can limit the damage is to use corticosteroids to curb the immune response.
In the long term, corticosteroids can be effective. However, despite medical advances, the autoimmune reaction can prevail despite treatment. In this case, the immune system continues to target and slowly degrade the structures of the inner ear.
As these tissues are destroyed, hearing gradually declines until the person can no longer hear. After AIED, one can be left with profound, or even total, hearing loss.
In addition to hearing loss, having one autoimmune disease increases the risk of developing another. Many people with AIED or other autoimmune diseases must remain vigilant and have regular blood tests. It is essential to ensure that the body is not inflicting further damage on itself.
Living with AIED
AIED is a disease that seems to strike without warning, and it can be difficult to accept the decline of one's hearing. Simply think of Limbaugh's case: he had spent years building an audience for a show entirely based on sound; losing his hearing was undoubtedly very challenging.
To cope with AIED, there are a few options, but the only one that offers the possibility of regaining something close to normal hearing is the cochlear implant. Other solutions include learning sign language or using assistive technologies such as subtitles and dictation software.
In Limbaugh's case, the choice fell on the cochlear implant. This option made perfect sense, since his job and career relied on his ability to express himself clearly, hear his guests, and communicate effectively orally.
What are the risks of cochlear implants?
While the cochlear implant is an excellent option for people who are nearly deaf, it involves a recovery period and carries risks. One of the main ones is that it can reduce or even eliminate residual hearing. Added to this is the fact that the surgery itself can also lead to complications.
Another point to consider: the cochlear implant is not an immediate solution. Devices like hearing aids provide a benefit from the first use, whereas a cochlear implant takes time.
After the operation, you must let the area heal before attaching the external unit. During the first activation, an audiologist must adjust the implant according to your hearing. And even then, it can take months, or even years, to obtain satisfactory results.
AIED, cochlear implants, and hearing loss
Rush Limbaugh needed cochlear implants because of an Autoimmune Inner Ear Disease (AIED) that reduced his hearing ability and left him deaf in 2001. After receiving the implant, he continued his show and led a flourishing radio career until his death in 2021.
As a cochlear implant wearer for over 20 years, Limbaugh perfectly illustrates how hearing assistive devices, both cochlear implants and hearing aids, can offer a better quality of life and allow one to continue doing what they love.
Sources
Symptoms of autoimmune diseases | MedlinePlus
Autoimmune Inner Ear Disease | ASHA
Benefits and Risks of Cochlear Implants | FDA
What is a cochlear implant? | NIDCD
