Actor Robert Shepherd stole the nation's heart when he became everyone's father in the "I love you, Dad," hearing aid commercial, for Hearing Assist. But this isn't his first rodeo. Robert has over 100 movie credits to his name, including appearing in Spielberg's Lincoln and Evan Almighty.

Whoopi Goldberg Comedian, actress, and TV host Whoopi Goldberg believes her hearing loss is the result of years of listening to loud music without proper ear protection. She now wears hearing aids and continues to thrive, though she still struggles to hear lower tones.

Marlee Matlin is, to date, the only deaf performer to have won an Academy Award. Her career has spanned nearly five decades, including acclaim for her lead role in Children of a Lesser God in 1986, which earned her an Academy Award and a Golden Globe.

Marlee Matlin Marlee Matlin is, to date, the only deaf performer to have won an Academy Award. Her career has spanned nearly five decades, including acclaim for her lead role in Children of a Lesser God in 1986, which earned her an Academy Award and a Golden Globe.

Most likely the result of a high fever during infancy, Glee star and comedic actress Jane Lynch has been deaf in her right ear for almost all of her life. Up until the age of 7, she assumed that people just didn't hear out of their left ear – until one day her brother told her he could hear out of both of his ears!

Quintus Pedius Quintus Pedius (died about 13) was a Roman painter and the first deaf person in recorded history known by name.

Beethoven Beethoven began losing his hearing in his mid-20s, after already building a reputation as a musician and composer. The cause of his deafness remains a mystery, though modern analysis of his DNA revealed health issues including large amounts of lead in his system.

Deaf since she was 18 months old, Matlin made her acting debut playing Sarah Norman in the romantic drama film Children of a Lesser God (1986), winning the Academy Award for Best Actress.

Troy Kotsur is now the first man who is Deaf to win an Academy Award for acting, collecting the trophy for best actor in a supporting role. His CODA costar, Marlee Matlin, was the first Deaf actor to win an Oscar back in 1987, receiving the best actress award for Children of a Lesser God.

Even though there are clear challenges from only hearing with one ear, most people live their life without technology or assistive devices to help them hear better.

The length of your hearing loss depends entirely on what's causing it, but it can last for anything from a few hours to several days.

FACT: Some deaf people speak very well and clearly; others do not because their hearing loss prevented them from learning spoken language. Deafness usually has little effect on the vocal chords, and very few deaf people are truly mute. MYTH: Hearing aids restore hearing. FACT: Hearing aids amplify sound.