Limbaugh's hearing loss could be linked to Vicodin use

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10/10/2001 - Updated 07:35 AM ET Limbaugh's sudden deafness is rare

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By Rita Rubin, USA TODAY

Hearing loss that progresses rapidly in both ears, such as experienced by radio talk-show host Rush Limbaugh, is "very rare" in people who were previously healthy, a National Institutes of Health researcher said Tuesday. Limbaugh, 50, told his listeners who tuned in to his show Monday that he has lost 100% of his hearing in his left ear and 80% in the right in the past 4 1/2 months. "There is a theory as to what's happening, but I'm going to keep that to myself," said Limbaugh, who is not discussing his condition with reporters.

Limbaugh spokeswoman Amir Forester said Tuesday that he "doesn't know what he has." Limbaugh did tell listeners that he has seen many specialists and has undergone a battery of tests, including blood work and a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan.

Robert Dobie, of the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, discussed possible causes of rapidly progressive bilateral hearing loss — involving both ears — which he called rare.

Some reports have linked Limbaugh's condition to the headset he wears while on the air, but Dobie said this type of hearing loss "is not from noise exposure."

"It wouldn't be that quick," he said. "It's not enough noise. That's an unduly alarming thing to say."

Patients with this type of hearing loss typically undergo an MRI scan to rule out tumors, an unlikely cause in adults, Dobie said. They're also usually tested for syphilis, which once was a common cause for this type of hearing loss, he said.

Today, possible reasons for rapidly progressive bilateral hearing loss include autoimmune inner ear disease, or AIED, or abuse of Vicodin, a narcotic pain reliever, said Dobie, director of the division of extramural research at the deafness institute.

In AIED, the immune system goes awry and damages the inner ear. Besides hearing loss, about half of those with AIED also experience balance problems. This type of hearing loss also can be caused by other autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, Dobie said.

Researchers at the House Ear Institute in Los Angeles have reported a link between Vicodin abuse and rapid hearing loss, although a cause-and-effect relationship has not been proven.

For both AIED and Vicodin-associated hearing loss, the first treatment usually is steroids, which, in the case of AIED, have been shown to halt and even reverse progression if started early, Dobie said. Limbaugh did tell listeners he is taking medication.

In adults with permanent, profound hearing loss, Dobie said, a cochlear implant can facilitate conversations face-to-face or even over the telephone.

-- Lars (lars@indy.net), October 10, 2001

Answers

possible reasons for rapidly progressive bilateral hearing loss include autoimmune inner ear disease, or AIED, or abuse of Vicodin, a narcotic pain reliever, said Dobie, director of the division of extramural research at the deafness institute.

-- Lars (lars@indy.net), October 10, 2001.

What was he taking the Vicodin for?

-- (dr.@laura.nutcase), October 10, 2001.

to avoid facing the fact he is a lying sack of shit like you dr. whore-ahh.

-- (art@bell.free), October 10, 2001.

"There is a theory as to what's happening, but I'm going to keep that to myself," said Limbaugh

Sources from his inner circle are saying that Rush suspects his hearing loss was intentionally inflicted upon him by opponents of his show. This theory just occurred to him after he heard about the anthrax attacks at the American Media tabloid company. With a little investigating, they discovered that a very destructive pattern of sound frequencies (ultra-low and super-high frequency range) were being transmitted into his headphones through the satellite feed. At this point, he isn't sure if it was Bin Laden, liberals, or a conspiracy between the two, but they are trying to locate the source of the transmissions. They are trying to keep their investigation classified at this point so that the perpetrators won't realize they are on their trail.

-- (hot on the trail @ high tech. terror), October 10, 2001.


hot on the trail,

I can confirm that you are correct. I risk my life in saying this but I have direct personal knowledge of a plot by liberals to focus ultrasonic death rays on prominent conservatives. Persons who have gold fillings are especially at risk.

-- (undercover@DNC.lavatory), October 10, 2001.



Undercover,

Death Rays? Real cute, too bad this is no joke.

This Vicodin theory is also ridiculous, probably being used to deceive the perpetrators hoping they will relax and slip up. Millions of people abuse Vicodin every day and there is no evidence of hearing loss.

What happened to Rush happened within a very short time and it was very destructive. Gold fillings have nothing to do with it, the damage was done directly to the inner ear tissue by the sheer vibrational intensity of the frequencies. Death rays might be preferable to the kind of suffering he will endure for the rest of his life because of the damage inflicted by the inaudible frequencies, essentially being rendered a deaf-mute imbecile unable to communicate with the outside world.

-- (hot on the trail @ getting. closer), October 10, 2001.


"rendered a deaf-mute imbecile unable to communicate with the outside world."

What sweet, poetic justice.

-- (there@is justice in the world.afterall), October 10, 2001.


Maybe he is being smote by God for his sins of lies.

-- Cherri (jessam6@home.com), October 10, 2001.

I heard he met Cherri in person and BAM he went deaf. After looking at her face no wonder.

-- Lars (lars@indy.trouble), October 10, 2001.

Oh gollies, I have a troll-clone.

-- Lars (lars@indy.net), October 10, 2001.


Right Lars. you dont have a troll. you are posting under multiple handles. you lying wind bag.

-- YOU (i@can.see), October 10, 2001.

Inner ear auto-immune disease diagnosed

-- (ladylogic2001@aol.com), October 10, 2001.

There was an article I remember several years ago that stated that a certain subsonic tone would cause immediate and involuntary loss of all sphincter control. Seems to me that would have been a lot more sporting (especially during political debates).

-- (Oops@Time.For.A.Commercial), October 11, 2001.

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