John Mellencamp Makes Troubling Admission About His Hearing After Decades of Rock ’n’ Roll

John Mellencamp has described worsening hearing problems, saying he expects he may be “totally deaf” by the end of his tour. He says the ringing in his ears and difficulty hearing in noisy places are affecting his daily life, while he remains opposed to hearing aids because of advice from his grandmother.

Mellencamp said he wears earplugs but will not use hearing aids, recalling his grandmother’s warning that they could become something he would depend on. He also reported pulsatile tinnitus, in which he hears his heartbeat, and said restaurant noise can make conversation impossible. The article also notes that his daughter Teddi is being treated for stage 4 melanoma and has described continuing difficulties after brain surgeries.