Did you know this about Rush Limbaugh?

[MickeyMouseGal]

The fact that Rush was taking and was addicted to painkillers doesn't mean that they caused the hearing loss.

You spend enough time in hospitals and you'll find that sometimes the thing that seemed like the obvious cause wasn't the actual cause.

Is it usually horses? Yeah. But once in a while, it is a zebra. And sometimes, no matter how hard they look at it, they just can't figure out what kind of animal it is.

Nobody is pretending he didn't have an addiction. They just aren't pretending to have access to all his medical records.

 

[rabx5]

Sorry he has hearing loss---as I would be for anyone, I don't care how he got it and I still think he is a self-important gas-bag.

Same here

I'm waiting for the "It's Obama's fault" regarding Limbaugh's hearing loss.

 

[DawnCt1]

It seems like a few summers ago, but I remember listening to him and telling DH and the tone and pitch of his voice had changed. It really seemed to evolve quickly, over a couple of months. The pitch was higher. I wasn't surprised when I heard that he had a hearing loss because it was evident by his voice. DS#4 had been in speech therapy for years so I recognized the change right away.

 

[KAMLEM]

Anyways, I know that cochlear implants are a very controversial topic. As much as I despise Rush L., I respect his right to choose cochlear implants. I see the pro's and cons to both sides-people have to go with what they are most comfortable with.

I know this is OT, but what is so controversial about them?

 

[Cool-Beans]

I know this is OT, but what is so controversial about them?

Oh, Lordy, have you stepped into a land mine.

They don't work all that well. But they do help some. For some people. One would hope that as time goes by, the medical/technical people will make them better and better and more people will be able to hear.

There are some folks - mostly in the deaf community - that have this, "What is so great about hearing, anyway?! Being deaf isn't so bad! You don't NEED to hear!" thing going on. And they kind of oppose the things.

IMO, there is nothing wrong with being deaf, per se, but having all of your senses is better than not. If I were losing any of my senses, I'd do whatever I could to improve them.

I view it as the same deal that happens any time new technology comes out. When phones first got answering machines, there was a group who was opposed to them. "Why do you need a message taker? What's wrong with people just calling back?" When cell phones came out, a group was opposed to that. "These people walking around with phones. Everywhere they go! Like they are so important that they NEED to be able to be reached at all times!" Happened with Blackberries. Is now happening with those blue-tooth ear phone thingies. There is always some group that is opposed to new technology.

I'm not anti-deaf. I'm not even against the crowd that opposes the CIs. They're free to have their own opinions. I just disagree.

 

[djm99]

I know this is OT, but what is so controversial about them?

I was wondering the same thing too. Last school year I over saw an IEP meeting (Education plan), for a deaf student. She was 16 years old and recently had the implants. Anyway, she had an issue with another teacher (it was spring) and the teacher opened a window. Well anyway, this student was really annoyed with sounds outside and asked to be removed from the class. The teacher refused and the student got up and she landed in my office. She called her mom upset and a meeting was called for the next day. Anyway, this teacher was really an ****** and was going out of his way not to treat her any different than any other students (sounds good, but she was special). What I learned was this child was annoyed by the sound of a bird. She had not ever heard that sound before. She didn't even know what it was. It was just loud to her. When I realized what it was (the bird sound) any professionalism I thought I had was out the window and tears where falling from my eyes. She was really hearing for the first time. I probably hadn't paid attention to a bird sound since I probably had to, but she - was hearing it for the first time. I am in awe of those implants.

 

[arminnie]

Think whatever you will about Rush - but PLEASE do not assume that drug addiction is usually behind a sudden loss. (not that anyone has said that across the board).

My best friend had a sudden loss of hearing at the age of 50. Very, very sudden. I worked with her, lived almost next door and knew her very well. I am positive there was no drug use involved at all.

It was a traumatic loss - she does not need the stigma of people thinking it was her fault due to drug abuse.

 

[bimshire]

Hey Rush:

"What Makes OxyContin a dangerous Drug ( side effects):

* Addiction
* Hearing loss
* Death
* Respiratory depression
* Apnea
* Respiratory arrest,
* Circulatory depression,
* Shock"

 

[Disney Doll]

Rush Limbaugh had or has a drug problem.

Rush Limbaugh lost his hearing and has cochlear implants.

Rush Limbaugh has fans and detractors.

These are the facts.

And while it is possible that his drug abuse caused his hearing loss, it is also possible that something else did. I have been a nurse for 25 years, have taken care of many drug detoxing patients...detoxing from all sorts of drugs...and have never had one who had a sudden hearing loss. And frankly, most of these folks were in a lot worse shape than Rush Limbaugh has ever been in in his life. I am talking hard-core drug addicts here folks...sleeping on the street, sharing needles and so forth.

As Cool-Beans said, since I do not have access to his medical record, I have no basis on which to come to the conclusion that his hearing loss was caused by drug addiction. I can make that assumption, I can even put it out there as a possibility, but to state it as fact...sorry, no can do.

FTR, I can't stand Rush Limbaugh, but I have seen havoc wreaked on people's lives when we "assume" stuff about their medical/health care. So I don't assume anything.

 

[purplepaint]

Sorry Rush Presidnet Bush is gone and they need someone else to pick on!!!!

 

[Aisling]

I'm sure he knew the risks, but that's what it means to be addicted...it takes you over. Addiction is no joke. You want to stop and you don't want to stop. It's a powerful psychological thing as much as it is a physical dependency. People with secret addictions tend to speak out against the very thing they're addicted to. It's a psychological way of separating onesself because they don't have the power to stop using. I feel sorry for people who are addicted to drugs, or alcohol for that matter.

The ones I don't feel sorry for are the ones who strongly speak out about illicit drugs, swear they never took them, who aren't addicted, but just use ot for their selfish gain, like Marion Jones.

 

[Magic Mom]

Think whatever you will about Rush - but PLEASE do not assume that drug addiction is usually behind a sudden loss. (not that anyone has said that across the board).

My best friend had a sudden loss of hearing at the age of 50. Very, very sudden. I worked with her, lived almost next door and knew her very well. I am positive there was no drug use involved at all.

It was a traumatic loss - she does not need the stigma of people thinking it was her fault due to drug abuse.

My father also had very sudden hearing loss. He isn't a drug user. He had a brain tumor that was on a nerve going to his ear. Luckily radiation therapy took care of the tumor but his hearing is not good on that side.

 

[perla75]

Sorry Rush Presidnet Bush is gone and they need someone else to pick on!!!!

Are you suggesting that Rush L. has never done anything worthy of criticism or disgust??? Even Rush, himself, would be insulted by your lack of knowledge.

 

[purplepaint]

Are you suggesting that Rush L. has never done anything worthy of criticism or disgust??? Even Rush, himself, would be insulted by your lack of knowledge.

No it’ the constant criticism! A simple post about a hearing aid turns into this!

 

[Talking Hands]

Guys he is deaf. Why is none of anyone's business. That's between him and his doctors. Btw he is not Deaf as in culturally but deaf as in medically.

 

[Barbossa]

If I was Rush I'd want to be deaf to avoid listening to myself all day long. Of course there are thousands of his right wing fascist constituents who do exactly that.

 

[perla75]

Think whatever you will about Rush - but PLEASE do not assume that drug addiction is usually behind a sudden loss. (not that anyone has said that across the board).

My best friend had a sudden loss of hearing at the age of 50. Very, very sudden. I worked with her, lived almost next door and knew her very well. I am positive there was no drug use involved at all.

It was a traumatic loss - she does not need the stigma of people thinking it was her fault due to drug abuse.

I am very sorry about your friend. I certainly wouldn't think that people assume that she abused drugs.

Hearing loss is not a common side effect to all drug abuses. With Rush L., there is simply a correlation going on.

It is a fact that he abused certain drugs.

The specific drugs he abused can cause sudden hearing loss (if you abuse or misuse them)

Rush L., suffered sudden hearing loss soon after he announced that he abused these drugs.

That is all that has been reported. There is definitely a strong correlation between his drug abuse and his hearing loss. But it is certainly not proven and several other factors could have attributed to his hearing loss.

 

[JMD]

If I was Rush I'd want to be deaf to avoid listening to myself all day long. Of course there are thousands of his right wing fascist constituents who do exactly that.

All the Anti-Rush nonsense from the liberals on this board is hilarious.

 

[perla75]

No it’ the constant criticism! A simple post about a hearing aid turns into this!

Very true, but you have to remember that this is a guy who constantly criticizes (to the degree that that his comments have been racist and outright cruel against people with disabilities). You have to expect that he is going to get criticized in return. My guess is Rush also expects this type of "welcoming" in some forums.

 

[perla75]

All the Anti-Rush nonsense from the liberals on this board is hilarious.

I am certainly not liberal, but regarding that man in a negative light is certainly not nonsense. Karma is a.....