Boys of Silence Trivia Quiz

Answer: Pete Townshend

Pete Townshend is famous for his work with 'The Who'. Both of his parents were musicians and he enjoyed music from a young age. He became famous as the guitarist who would smash and generally wreck his instruments during a concert. His loss of hearing has happened over time and according to him it is the result of headphones and loud concerts.

Answer: Thomas A. Edison

Thomas Edison (1847-1931) or 'The Wizard Of Menlo Park" circulated many stories about losing his hearing. One was that he had been made deaf after getting his ears boxed and another that he had a brain tumor, both of which were untrue. Actually his hearing loss was due to a childhood bout of scarlet fever. He often said he didn't mind being deaf because people talked nonsense anyway.

Answer: Ludwig van Beethoven

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) suffered from tintinitus for many years until it caused his deafness in 1800. Rather than give up composing,he developed many alternatives to help him 'hear' his compositions. For example, he would place his head against the piano and floorboards to 'feel' the beat of the music.

It is ironic that one of the world's greatest composers eventually could not hear any of the thunderous applause from grateful audiences.

Answer: Johnny Ray

Johnny Ray (1927-1990) was a famous American pop singer in the 1950s. Tony Bennett credits Ray as being the first Rock n Roll vocalist. His song 'Crying' was #1 on the billboard charts for many weeks. At the age of 13, Johnny Ray became deaf after an accident during a scouting trip.

Answer: William Elsworth

William Elsworth (1862-1961) was an American center fielder in both the American and National leagues at various times throughout his amazing career. The baseball field at Gallaudet College, is named for him. His professional name was 'Dummy Hoy' and his accomplishments included 600 stolen bases and more outs at first base than any other player at his time.

It was he,1746 who encouraged the use of hand signals in baseball so that he could better know how to react to different plays.

Answer: Lou Ferrigno

Lou Ferrigno was a Mr. Universe and well known body builder and motivational speaker when he was cast as Television's 'The Amazing Hulk". He suffered a loss of hearing at the age of three.

Answer: Goya

Francisco Goya (1746-1828) became deaf in 1793 after a brief illness. As a result he became reclusive and deeply depressed. Nevertheless he continued to paint and much of his later work is dark, and some of these works focus on St. Anthony of Padua.

Answer: Bill Clinton

Bill Clinton is almost completely deaf in one ear and finds it very difficult to hear clearly when in a crowded room. Since he is a successful public speaker, this is problematic. He wears a hearing aid and is open to telling how it has improved his ability to do well as public servant.

Answer: Laurent Clerc

Laurent Clerc (1785-1869) was unable to hear, taste or smell after a childhood fall, but became a prize student at school. With his friend Gaulladet , he opened the first deaf school in the United States, 'The American School for the Deaf', in Hartford, Connecticut.

He worked relentlessly on signing and teaching the deaf as well as the hearing population that deafness did not mean unintelligent.

Answer: Paul Stanley

Paul Stanley of the rock group 'Kiss' was born with a malformation of the ear known as Microtia. He does continual charitable work for others with facial deformaties.