“It doesn’t matter that I can’t hear the music.
Because I can touch it”
Robbie Wilde is 27 years old, who is deaf and is a DJ. When he was about 7, he had several ear infections and due to his family’s lack of money, he was not able to receive any treatment. This led him to lose all of his hearing in his right ear, and 80% in his left. He stayed in public schools working on his speech and ability to read lips, but he did encounter some problems because no one really knew how his hearing loss would affect him.
He was able to develop speech and language because his hearing loss was not this profound at birth. The most important thing is that Robbie has never let his disability slow him down. Wilde was determined to become a DJ, even with his hearing impairment. His career as a DJ began in college, where he fell in love with the turntables. After his debut in his father’s restaurant, Robbie began DJ’ing at clubs all over the tri-state area.
What is interesting is that Robbie hears that something is going on, but there is no distinction or clarity to what he is hearing. When he is DJ’ing, he relies on visual cues from his computer and relies on his sense of touch, where he is able to physically feel the vibrations. He explains that the feeling of the bass is how we dance and know what is going on with the music. Rather than hearing songs, he sees the song through the different music waves. Robbie explains that he has been working and studying to be the DJ he is today.
Doctors explain to him that there is an available procedure that can help restore his hearing, and he says maybe one day he will consider it when he has the time and money. But for now, Robbie is actively fighting for issues in society that are overlooked, and he will continue his music and philanthropic efforts. Robbie is a true inspiration and he truly believes that nothing is impossible.
He was able to develop speech and language because his hearing loss was not this profound at birth. The most important thing is that Robbie has never let his disability slow him down. Wilde was determined to become a DJ, even with his hearing impairment. His career as a DJ began in college, where he fell in love with the turntables. After his debut in his father’s restaurant, Robbie began DJ’ing at clubs all over the tri-state area.
What is interesting is that Robbie hears that something is going on, but there is no distinction or clarity to what he is hearing. When he is DJ’ing, he relies on visual cues from his computer and relies on his sense of touch, where he is able to physically feel the vibrations. He explains that the feeling of the bass is how we dance and know what is going on with the music. Rather than hearing songs, he sees the song through the different music waves. Robbie explains that he has been working and studying to be the DJ he is today.
Doctors explain to him that there is an available procedure that can help restore his hearing, and he says maybe one day he will consider it when he has the time and money. But for now, Robbie is actively fighting for issues in society that are overlooked, and he will continue his music and philanthropic efforts. Robbie is a true inspiration and he truly believes that nothing is impossible.
"I don’t want you to see me as a deaf DJ or a deaf kid trying to DJ. I want you to see me as a great DJ, who happens to be deaf.”
Article: http://www.cnn.com/2013/08/28/health/human-factor-robbie-wilde/