NYC Ballet Principal Dancer Sara Mearns Embraces Hearing Aids Onstage
Sara Mearns, a principal dancer with the New York City Ballet, has become one of the first performers in her company to wear hearing aids during stage performances. After struggling with missed cues, difficulty hearing partners, and late entrances due to muffled music, Mearns sought medical advice and was diagnosed with hearing loss. Her condition, potentially caused by genetics, medical issues, and noise exposure, led to years of isolation before she adopted the technology. Now 40, Mearns describes the experience as opening a new chapter in her life and aims to reduce the stigma surrounding hearing assistance. The article highlights that despite hearing loss affecting people of all ages, less than twenty percent of eligible American adults use hearing aids, often due to shame, lack of access, or unrecognized symptoms. Medical experts note that symptoms extend beyond volume loss, including difficulty in noisy environments and frequent requests for repetition. Mearns’ public advocacy seeks to encourage others to seek help, demonstrating that professional athletes and artists can thrive with hearing support. Her story underscores the importance of early detection and normalizing hearing health tools in high-performance careers.
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NYC Ballet Principal Dancer Sara Mearns Embraces Hearing Aids Onstage
Sara Mearns, a principal dancer with the New York City Ballet, has become one of the first performers in her company to wear hearing aids during stage performances. After struggling with missed cues, difficulty hearing partners, and late entrances due to muffled music, Mearns sought medical advice and was diagnosed with hearing loss. Her condition, potentially caused by genetics, medical issues, and noise exposure, led to years of isolation before she adopted the technology. Now 40, Mearns describes the experience as opening a new chapter in her life and aims to reduce the stigma surrounding hearing assistance. The article highlights that despite hearing loss affecting people of all ages, less than twenty percent of eligible American adults use hearing aids, often due to shame, lack of access, or unrecognized symptoms. Medical experts note that symptoms extend beyond volume loss, including difficulty in noisy environments and frequent requests for repetition. Mearns’ public advocacy seeks to encourage others to seek help, demonstrating that professional athletes and artists can thrive with hearing support. Her story underscores the importance of early detection and normalizing hearing health tools in high-performance careers.
AP News