[shrinkermd]

"What if they are related and the hearing loss was self inflicted?"

I am afraid the article cited explains a possible reason for Rush's hearing loss as well as the charge of substance abuse. I hope my suspicions are ill founded and my previous assertion that he shows no signs or symptoms of substance habituation iz correct.

[arasina]

So you think he somehow became addicted to the painkiller hydrocodone and had hearing loss as a result? It does appear that may be the caseWonder why he would've been prescribed the painkiller initially. We need to pray for him. Bless his heart.

[nvskibum]

I share your hope that substance abuse is not the cause of Rush's hearing problem.

But I saw on the other Limbaugh FR thread a post (No. 75) linking to a description of a report by the "House Ear Clinic" in L.A. [http://www.injury-lawyer-network.com/hydro.htm]. The report says that prolonged use of Vicodin can result in the type of hearing loss Limbaugh suffered. The report also says that updated findings on this drug side-effect were to be delivered at a conference in January 2002 (note timing).

Perhaps coincidentally, Rush stated on his show that he was treated by the House Ear Clinic for his hearing condition (a fact not noted on the other thread, to my knowledge).I remember this clearly because I have considered contacting the House Ear Clinic for a completely different type of hearing condition after hearing Rush speak so highly of them.

I hope, for Rush's sake, that this is just a coincidence, and that he was not one of the patients in the study conducted by the clinic. I feel horrible for Rush.