5 Famous Deaf People who Changed the World

Believe it or not, some of the greatest accomplishments in our world’s history were achieved by Deaf people.  Past and present figures from the arts, science and literature fields have gotten to the top with hearing loss and created the most incredible work that is enjoyed today and will continue to be enjoyed for decades to come.  We’ve put together a list of the 5 most influential Deaf people, some of whom turned deafness into an advantage. These may surprise you!

 

Ludwig Van Beethoven

Who was he: Arguably, Beethoven is the most famous Deaf person on our list. He was a German pianist born in 1770 and is regarded as the Greatest Classical Composer ever.

 

Famous Deaf people - Beethoven

 

Deafness: Beethoven started to lose his hearing at the age of 26, with a suspected disease called typhus (lead poisoning). And by the age of 52, he was presumed to be completely deaf. However, this is when he produced some of his most important works. As his hearing got worse, Beethoven struggled to communicate with people. His biggest challenge was conducting and performing in concerts, as he couldn’t hear when the music stopped and the audience applauded.

Biggest achievements: Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, composed after he’d lost his hearing, is considered one of the greatest classical pieces of all time. Other notable pieces include Fur Elise, the Fifth Symphony and the Moonlight Sonata.

 

Will.i.am

Who is he: Real name William Adams; he is an American rapper, songwriter, entrepreneur, actor, DJ, record producer and philanthropist. Born in 1975, he is best known for being part of the Black Eyed Peas, managing and collaborating with Cheryl Cole and being one of the main judges on The Voice UK.

Deafness: Will developed tinnitus in the early years of his life due to exposure to loud, prolonged music. Tinnitus generates a constant ringing in the ear; once the nerves in the ear are damaged, it is incurable. This condition can produce serious pain, and the noise is worse than chalk scraping on a blackboard. People who suffer from this condition tend to surround themselves with noise all the time to make the ringing easier to ignore.

Biggest achievements: With Black Eyed Peas, he sold 31 million albums worldwide, earning himself three Grammy Awards. Will has worked with Michael Jackson, Britney Spears and Miley Cyrus and appeared on X-Factor, American Idol and The Voice UK. He studied Design and Merchandising and has released several clothing lines.

 

Thomas Edison

Who is he: Thomas Edison is considered the most famous American Inventor of all time. Born in 1847, Edison is best known for inventing the light bulb, phonograph and Motion Picture.

 

Famous Deaf people Edison

 

Deafness: Thomas Edison had hearing problems from childhood and was thought to be completely deaf by his early teenage years. The cause of his deafness is unknown, although it did run in Edison’s family. Edison saw the advantages of being deaf and enjoyed that it helped him concentrate on his work.

Biggest achievements: One of Edison’s most remarkable achievements is the invention of the lightbulb, which he ensured would light a home for hours. Secondly, he designed and developed the system of electric power to generate electricity for homes, businesses and factories – a crucial advancement in the Modern Industrialised World. Edison also produced the phonograph, which was used to create motion pictures. Edison worked on it for 52 years, and it’s said that this was his favourite invention.

 

Helen Keller

Who is she: Helen Keller, born in 1880, was a Famous American educator, Political Activist and writer of twelve inspirational books.

 

famous deaf people Keller

 

Deafness: Keller contracted an illness at 18 months called ‘Brain Fever’, which left her blind, deaf and mute, but she developed a limited way of communicating and created a basic form of sign language. Keller began a relationship with a woman called Anne Sullivan, who became her guide and mentor, teaching her finger spelling and other ways of communicating.

Achievements: Keller was the first Deafblind person to achieve a Bachelor of Arts degree. She became a writer and communicated with millions of people across the Globe. Keller was also the founding member of the first organisation to support Blind adults, where she visited and gave hope to war veterans and blind soldiers. She will be remembered for the endless work she did around the world for people with disabilities.

 

Jane Lynch

Who is she: Jane Lynch is an American actress who is most famously known for the award-winning TV series Glee. Born in 1960, she is completely deaf in one ear.

Deafness: Lynch found out she was deaf in one ear when she was seven years old whilst playing a hearing game with her brother.  Jane’s hearing loss was caused by nerve deafness, suspected from a very high temperature when she was a baby. Jane’s ear is stone deaf, meaning hearing aids were not an option. She was determined to overcome her disability and made an exceptional career for herself in Film and Television.

Biggest achievements: Lynch has starred in some of America’s most popular shows and movies, including Friends, Glee, Desperate Housewives, West Wing, Wreck it Ralph and the 40-year-old virgin.

 

So… are you surprised?! These five people all lived with hearing loss to varying severities and were all game-changers because of their genius. As we write this, in a well-lit room, Edison seems perfect proof that deafness is no barrier to changing the world. How individuals nurture their brains, curiosity, and creativity enables them to achieve great accomplishments in life.

So ask yourself this: How can you change the world today?

We hope you enjoyed reading this. Who is your Deaf hero? Please share! And we’d love to know your thoughts on this post…