Although it may be a perfectly natural step in the aging process, rock legend Eric Clapton says his hearing loss could impact his craft.

Eric Clapton Hearing Loss
(The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images)

 

In a recent interview with the BBC 2, Eric Clapton reveals that reaching his seventies has come with its challenges. Ever so humbly the 18x Grammy winner says he will continue performing in 2018 but admits, “The only thing I’m concerned with now is being in my seventies and being able to be proficient.”

The guitar phenom admits, “I’m going deaf, I’ve got tinnitus, my hands just about work. I mean I’m hoping people will come along and see me, just because, well maybe more than because I’m a curiosity. I know that is part of it. It’s amazing to myself that I’m still here.”

Tinnitus is a common symptom of hearing loss, and is the perception of noise or ringing in the ears. This, combined with Clapton’s nerve disorder which brings a tingling sensation in the limbs and hands, is the source of his self-consciousness.

BBC 2 host, Steve Wright, dismisses Clapton’s self-doubt, concluding the interview with “come on, you’re brilliant!”

 

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