In June of 2010, after 57 years spent composing countless numbers of acclaimed pieces of work, Richard Einhorn woke up almost entirely deaf. Typically, this predicament would strike renown fear into the lives of practically everyone, but the sudden ailment especially hit Einhorn hard because he not only depended on his ears to make a living, but his hearing was also the source of his genius.
Richard Einhorn is an American composer, with a musical catalog essentially unrivaled due to his pliability in genres. From conducting the scores of horror films and orchestrating elaborate musical ensemble live performances to writing the soundtrack to multiple operas, Einhorn’s talent in the arts was truly apparent. He graduated summa cum laude from his 1975 class of Columbia University students, where he focused his studies on composition and electronic music.
Perfecting his craft
Following his graduation, Einhorn began working as a record producer, collaborating alongside the likes of innovative musicians such as the versatile Meredith Monk and the renowned New York Philharmonic symphony. He then went on to his acclaimed solo career, where he helped craft the music scores of 80s horror films such as “The Prowler” and “Sister, Sister.” He also expanded his craft to a variety of genres, including opera, orchestra and dance scores.
Einhorn spent the next few decades exploring his musical inventiveness, completely void of auditory disruption. After waking up that fateful morning four years ago, he learned that he suffered from a relatively rare type of hearing damage known as sensorineural hearing loss. This condition arises when the vestibulocochlear nerve, which processes sound and balance, suddenly becomes impaired, disrupting communication to the brain’s auditory regions while also developing poor hair cell function within the ears.
A new beginning
Instead of relinquishing his musical capabilities, Einhorn found a way to essentially enhance them through innovative auditory technology. After being unsatisfied with the quality of his hearing aids, Einhorn began utilizing a hearing loop to help him gain back his passion for tuneful sounds. A hearing loop is typically installed in places with large audiences, such as a theater or concert venue. It works as an amplification service for hearing aids, taking the signal of a sound source and transmitting it through a series of wires that send a magnetic signal to the telecoils in a hearing aid, producing clear sounds that are not interfered by various environmental noises. These loops can also be installed in the homes of those who are auditory impaired, and have been a revolutionary source of hearing for Einhorn.
Through his hearing loss, Einhorn has helped spread awareness of auditory impairment. His advocacy for a number of hearing issues, such as the use of loop systems in public places has reached countless ears. Einhorn has also published numerous essays urging hearing loss rights, including pieces for Hearing Loss Magazine and Trends in Amplification. Einhorn’s assertiveness should serve as an inspiration to the 48 million Americans who live with hearing loss every day.
