In Their Words: Mokotoff's hearing loss is 'a special gift'

In Their Words: Mokotoff's hearing loss is 'a special gift'
Mokotoff speaks the universal language with his guitar


"Charles Mokotoff lives on the outskirts of Washington, D.C., but grew up in Middletown. The son of Middletown's former mayor, Gert Mokotoff, Charles is widely recognized as a classical guitarist in this country and abroad. What makes him stand out even more remarkably is that he has a substantial hearing loss.

“I've played one instrument or another forever, starting with the French horn in third grade right up to high school. When I was 13 or so, some friends and I started a rock band. We got some equipment and instruments together and played at small events. I started out playing simple percussion instruments at first. Then a band member introduced me to the guitar. I learned quickly from him and never put it down.

“Life with my friends in the band was good for about two years until I woke up one morning and my world was very quiet. The birds outside my window may have been chirping, but I didn't hear them. Literally overnight I had lost at least 50 percent of my hearing in both ears.

"The doctors said it was because of some viral infection, but in spite of their tests, medications and time, I didn't regain my hearing.

“I was just 15 years old, and I felt as if I had come to the edge of my world. However, acceptance came, and I decided to get on with the business of life, and since music was a big part of my existence, I stuck a hearing aid in my ear and picked up a guitar again.

Seeing the possibilities
“It's funny how you get used to things. I rarely think of myself as being disabled. Of course, without hearing aids I can hear almost nothing, but with them I'm able to fit into the rest of society fairly well. And there are many musicians out there who have some type of hearing loss; most not as profound as mine, but enough to realize it is possible to get on as a musician with hearing loss.

“When I graduated from Middletown High School, I went to Syracuse University, where I graduated cum laude in 1977 with a degree in guitar performance. After that I went to Ithaca College and earned my master's degree in the same field…..”



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~ Article written by Sheldon Scruggs

If you think you have a hearing loss, or know someone who does, give me a call @ (877) HEAR-CLR for a FREE HEARING TEST, and lets get you/them fixed up (most times within 24 hours)!