He played the raging green monster “The Incredible Hulk” in the ’70s TV series of the same title. Thanks to his glossy credentials as a bodybuilder, he got the part. Lou Ferrigno was named Mr. Universe in 1973 and again in 1974. Ferrigno appeared as himself alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger in the 1977 bodybuilding documentary “Pumping Iron.” The next year, he began his five-season run as The Hulk (1978-82), paired with Bill Bixby as The Hulk’s mild-mannered alter ego, David Banner. After The Incredible Hulk ended, Ferrigno went on to other musclebound roles, including Hercules in Hercules (1983) and Sinbad in Sinbad of the Seven Seas (1989).
But during his younger years, “The Incredible Hulk” had another alias — “Deaf Louie.” He got the nickname from his hearing peers who teased him for being hard of hearing (HOH). Ferrigno lost much of his hearing after suffering from an ear infection as an infant. The constant ridicule from his hearing friends proved so hard for Ferrigno that at some point, he was sulked in depression and anxiety.
HOH is a term generally used to describe individuals who use their residual hearing and speech to communicate. Many hard of hearing people can understand some speech sounds with or without a hearing aid. Generally, these individuals supplement their residual hearing with speechreading, hearing aids and technical devices. A hard of hearing person, in audiological terms, may have a mild to moderate hearing loss.
People lose their hearing in various ways. The most common causes of hearing loss are: