Legendary Musician Eric Clapton Says He Is Going Deaf In a recent interview with BBC 2, the singer/songwriter admitted he's losing his hearing but he won't stop preforming. "I mean, I'm going deaf, I've got tinnitus, my hands just about work." "I mean, I'm hoping that people will come along and see me just because, or maybe more than because I'm a curiosity. It's amazing to myself that I'm still here." The Mayo Clinic defines tinnitus as "the perception of noise or ringing in the ears" and usually effects 1 in 5 people, with the elderly more likely to suffer from it. Despite him beginning to lose his hearing, Clapton continues to perform and pump out albums. His most recent album, I Still Do, was released in 2016.