Deaf musician. Not two words you often hear together, and when you do, it might bring to mind Ludwig Van Beethoven. As his deafness began in his late twenties, the life inside of Beethoven’s head became consuming – making him more angry, more forceful, and more unhinged.
But what if Beethoven’s story had been lived a hundred years later? Aside from the obvious – that his compositions have changed all of music since – and the reality that an abusive childhood could happen in any century, I find myself asking the question. Could Beethoven’s ears have benefited from modern science?
These are the musings of a deaf musician. My hearing loss was discovered during pre-kindergarten testing. My parents felt a measure of guilt for not catching the deficiency earlier, but I had never experienced significant speech delays. I had also learned to read lips well. Moving forward with severe loss in my right ear and moderate in my left, I was given one hearing aid for my right ear when I was in first grade.
I grew up in a musical home and started piano lessons when I was 8 years old. I was never led to believe that my hearing would hold me back, and I never questioned my love of music. I began to learn the flute in fifth grade band, and went on to wear my hearing aid less and less. It was far easier to learn to play a high pitched instrument through vibrations than with a mold in my ear.
High school provided a variety of musical opportunities for me … many of which led me to where I’m at today. I was involved in marching and symphonic band and played piano and guitar for services at church. I began teaching piano with the guidance and direction of my own piano instructor, and I was given some remarkable overseas travel opportunities to perform with other students from around Ohio. I swore I would never be a music major in college, but fell in love with my International Baccalaureate music classes and moved forward to study music therapy.
I tell you this to say that when I visited a new audiologist my freshman year of college and we saw my updated hearing test results, we were both more than a little surprised. My life was centered around sound, yet I was missing so much and had no idea. I was fitted for two hearing aids and have been enjoying the immense benefit of today’s hearing technology until last year.
In the past couple of years, for reasons unknown, my right ear has lost a significant amount of hearing. I was recommended for a cochlear implant, and to be honest, the news was a punch in the gut.
We are now in April of 2026, and I have not only come to terms with the idea, but am over three months post surgery and deep into my listening and auditory therapy.
The whole process has been fascinating, and I am so in awe of modern medicine, our brain’s ability to learn, and how precious the gift of hearing truly is. I have never been more grateful for the hearing that I do have in my left ear as I use it to teach my right ear how to hear in a new way.
A few takeaways for those interested in my experience …
~ Volume and clarity are two different animals: you may turn up the volume level, and I still might not understand. Clarity is the goal. A cochlear implant isn’t turned up all the way to start, and clarity takes practice starting with low sound levels then moving higher.
~ Progress is not linear: a cochlear implant bypasses the rest of the ear and brings sound directly to the innermost part of your ear (the cochlea) through electromagnetic signals. At first, everything sounded like it was being filtered through a voice distorter and was completely indecipherable. Over three + months in I am hearing more and more each day. I’m doing a significant amount of sound therapy. I have days where I hear much clearer and days that I am reminded how much work I still have to do. I seem to hear best through my implant in the morning, when my brain is rested and ready for a day of listening. I did notice the other day that I heard the water from the shower running while I stood in my bedroom … and I’m not sure when, if ever, I’ve heard that!
~ Voices and music are not processed the same: I have high hopes of being able to decipher voices very well through my implant as time continues. After three months of continuous wear, I am convinced that piano teaching is one of the best jobs I could have to learn to hear music through the implant. But right now, the more layers of sound in a song, the more “noisy” and indecipherable. I am thrilled that I enjoy wearing it and don’t notice it when I listen or create most music now. At first, I was prepared to take it off as needed (and I did) to teach or play at church on Sunday. All in all, I prefer wearing it over leaving it off each day. This is a huge win in my book!
I have so much more I could share, and I’m posting here as a relative newcomer to the Cochlear Implant journey. But I do share as someone who wants to hear your story. Everyone’s experience seems to be different, and I’d love to know what has worked for you if you are a musician on this journey to better hearing.
As I sit back and contemplate, I wonder, would Beethoven join me if he could? I don’t know. Some of his musical genius was a product of the angst and depression caused by his condition. The very beginning of the cochlear implant journey was difficult and had me questioning if this was the right decision. I don’t question that now, and I’m treating each day as a challenge to see what I can achieve with it. My right ear could no longer understand speech on its own or with hearing amplification, and this experience will be incredibly helpful long term. Musically? Time will tell, and I’m excited to see what I can accomplish!
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Here to share a fun resource as well, because there is so much beauty in seeing others who have lived the same or similar experiences you have! I teared up as I finished reading this sweet book … and I am so immensely grateful for the many people I’ve had cheering me on in my musical journey my entire life. I have never felt less than or incapable. I hope to be the light that encourages someone else along their journey to adapt and achieve all that they desire to in the world of music!
“This is a story of music. Of obstacles. Of strength and hard work. Of all you can accomplish when you dream. If you find your own way to … shhhh … listen.”
Click here to listen to Evelyn Glennie’s Ted Talk
Check out some of her work –
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