Ayumi Hamasaki Becoming Completely Deaf

Ayumi Hamasaki has begun to lose her ability to hear out of her right ear, putting her down a path to becoming completely deaf.

---

蘇億琳 Elen Soh 【琳姐報到】 Hayley Premium Bread at Cold Storage

蘇億琳 Elen Soh

---

In a blog posted to her Team Ayu site, Hamasaki revealed the news that she is becoming completely deaf.

"I was told after various hearing tests that my right ear (which has been working overtime to compensate for the deafness of my left ear) is quickly weakening," she said.

Just before the start of this year's tour, the singer had been experiencing vertigo and sickness.
​
"I was experiencing crippling dizziness. I was unable to walk in a straight line, and was often vomiting in the restroom while at the rehearsal studio," she said.

With her complete deafness becoming a reality, Hamasaki has been struggling to cope with how to move forward with life after spending the majority of it as a pop superstar.
​
"I remember wondering how would I as a singer be able to cope with two useless ears. I was in the dark," she said.

In 2000, Hamasaki caught an ear infection while in the middle of a tour. Doctors advised the singer to rest and reduce her exposure to loud noises, but she ignored their recommendation and resumed touring after only a few days in the hospital.

From that point forward, Hamasaki's hearing in her left ear gradually become worse and worse until, in 2008, doctors informed her the she had permanently lost hearing in her left ear.