Coronation Street star William Roache reveals he's partially deaf
Soap legend William Roache has revealed he is partially deaf and has to have special treatment on the Coronation Street set.
The veteran actor, 77, who plays Weatherfield stalwart Ken Barlow, is 50% deaf in both ears and must be given visual cues.
He said: “Deafness is extremely isolating. I live in a cocooned world.”
His deafness came about when he was 21-year-old soldier and a bomb went off in a training exercise.
Bill says he often has to walk away from conversations because he cannot hear. "My children get embarrassed because I repeat things which have just been said."
Bill is fronting The Sound Barrier Star Awards, which recognise achievements in people who are hard of hearing.
Comments
This is when celebrities can put their fame to good use, they need to make people aware of problems that affect others so they can feel fine about telling others about their problems.
Posted by: Hearing Aids Hereford | April 13, 2010 04:59 PM
Little know fact:
The wife of Alexander Graham Bell, inventor of the telephone was deaf from the age of 5.
Thomas Edison, inventor of the electric light bulb was deaf from an early age due to a bout of scarlet fever.
Posted by: Ableize UK Disability Blog | April 26, 2010 05:45 AM
There are lots of people in the music industry with hearing loss due to excessive noise exposure. As we learn more about the damage excessive noise can cause to hearing most musicians nowadays wear in-ear monitors to protect their hearing.
Posted by: Discount Hearing Aids | May 15, 2010 04:05 AM
Wish I was only 50% hearing both ears at his age, Im 59 and Bilateral profoundly Deaf......All i can say is..GET REAL
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Posted by: ultrasound technician | July 2, 2010 12:44 AM