“Lost 85 Percentage of My Hearing”: Bodybuilding Legend Lou Ferrigno Opened Up on His Disheartening Struggle with Hearing Problem Back in 2021

Not just a versatile actor, but Lou Ferrigno is also a two-time Mr. Universe title winner. A fitness freak and health enthusiast, Lou ensured that he marked his presence felt at the bodybuilding stage. Standing remarkably tall at 6’5″, the American youth icon, dominated the 70s and 80s. With his stellar performance in the Marvel cult-classic, “The Incredible Hulk,” he became a household name.

However, the road to success was never easy. He did not just have to brave his professional hurdles but also his hearing problem. In a throwback interview with Inside Edition’s Les Trent, Lou talked about his medical struggles.

Lou Ferrigno candidly opened up on his journey so far

Nearly his whole life, Ferrigno had struggled with hearing disability. Not only he struggled with himself, but he was also bullied by other kids. Talking about the same, in the 2021 interview, he said, “I lost 85 percent of my hearing because of nerve damage.”

Elaborating further, he said, “My mother and father didn’t take me to a doctor since I was like four years old because they realized when they clap their hands, I didn’t respond.” He was made to wear an old-fashioned hearing aid with buttons attached to the chest. Too young to understand Lou’s situation, the school kids, as he further mentioned, “Would make fun of”  him.

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Throughout his life, Lou tried different hearing aid, but his hearing remained subpar. Later on, he discovered the cochlear implant. Opting to go for it, he made a choice that altered his life for the better.

The decision that changed Ferrigno’s life

For the unversed, Lou was left with major hearing loss after he suffered from a severe ear infection when he was a toddler. While he sought the help of hearing aids, the results were unsatisfactory. He then underwent cochlear implant surgery to improve the clarity of the sound and his hearing experience.

Sharing his experience, the senior movie star said, “Because of the implant, I’m able to distinguish the different consonants, the different S sound. Everything you could… I had never heard before. And that is a life-changing experience.” Glad to experience life from a fresh perspective, the 70-year-old seemed grateful about it.

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Even though he was nervous at first but as his close friend opted for the operation, Lou too was motivated to give implant a chance. And now, with the positive results, the Hulk actor could not be any happier.