Hearing Loss of The Greats

Everyone is familiar with Winston Churchill. He’s a giant figure, often associated with a stern face, the moment his name is mentioned. It’s common to think of Churchill as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom during the critical years of the 1940s and once more in the 1950s. Yet, what’s not widely recognised is that Churchill dealt with hearing loss while making some of the most important talks and choices of the 20th Century.

Similar to numerous people nowadays, Churchill didn’t take immediate steps to address his hearing impairment. His own doctor, Lord Charles Moran, M.D., noted in his journal by the end of 1944 that Churchill was having trouble hearing over the phone. By 1950, as his hearing condition was deteriorating, Churchill sought advice from an ear, nose, and throat specialist. It was then confirmed that he was suffering from a high-frequency hearing loss, which made it hard for him to comprehend sounds of higher frequencies or consonants such as ‘s’, ‘h’, and ‘f’.

Two years after receiving his initial hearing aid, Churchill was hesitant to use it regularly. While there are no explicit accounts of his feelings about the device, it’s reasonable to assume that the bulky design of the earlier models might have been bothersome, leading to discomfort and self-consciousness. Nonetheless, by 1955, Churchill’s unaddressed hearing impairment began to noticeably affect his lively and vocal character, as observed by Lord Moran in that year.

The use of the hearing aid became consistent only after Churchill’s difficulty in comprehending and reacting to parliamentary discussions due to his hearing impairment became evident. In the early spring of 1953, a correspondence from Churchill’s office reached the Ministry of Works seeking approval for the implementation of an induction system within the House of Commons. This system, also referred to as a telecoil, was installed beneath the carpet surrounding Churchill’s chair, effectively amplifying the sound from the parliamentary amplification system to his hearing aid, thereby enhancing the volume and clarity of the voices. This technology remains in use today in various public settings like banks, train stations, and theatres. Churchill expressed his satisfaction with the performance of this system during its testing phase. As he continued his tenure as Prime Minister and later transitioned into his role as a Member of Parliament, Churchill depended on his hearing aid for engaging in discussions and debates with his colleagues.

Fortunately, since the 1950s, the design and functionality of hearing technology have undergone a remarkable change. The hearing aids of Churchill’s time were quite noticeable due to their large size, but contemporary hearing aids are so small and inconspicuous that they hardly catch the eye. Nowadays, hearing aids are available in a wide range of designs and come equipped with features tailored to meet the specific needs of the individual user. These features include the ability to reduce background noise, artificial intelligence that enhances speech and audio quality, and Bluetooth technology that allows for direct transmission of calls and music from a smartphone to the hearing aids. Modern hearing aids can be customised to improve the clarity of the sounds that matter most to the user.

If you’re like Churchill, and you’re reluctant to seek treatment because you believe your hearing is ‘good enough’ or you’re self-conscious about using technology, recall the significant effect hearing loss can have on your general health, happiness, and social interactions.

Consult with our specialist in hearing care and have your hearing evaluated, even if you believe your hearing is merely average. There are solutions available for various fashion tastes and daily activities.