The Voice UK coach will.i.am’s health condition will eventually lead to irreversible hearing loss-Zoe Shenton and Pierra Willix-Entertainment – Metro

The Voice UK coach will.i.am is facing ‘irreversible’ hearing loss (Picture: Rachel Joseph/ ITV/ Rex)

The Voice UK coach will.i.am is facing ‘irreversible’ hearing loss due to a chronic health condition.

The American rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, actor, and entrepreneur, is best known as the frontman of the group Black Eyed Peas, which was formed in 1995.

He’s also released four solo albums, with another due to be released by the end of this year.

Throughout his career he’s worked with Usher, Michael Jackson, Rihanna, Miley Cyrus, U2, Lady Gaga, John Legend and Cheryl.

Will.i.am, born William James Adams Jr., has also been a coach on The Voice UK since it premiered in 2012.

However, the musician will also one day face significant hearing loss due to his long battle with tinnitus.

He was diagnosed with tinnitus a few years ago (Picture: Kieron McCarron/ Shutterstock)

The chronic condition causes a constant ringing sound in the ears and for some people can impact their concentration or cause anxiety or depression.

A few years ago, will.i.am spoke about facing the irreversible hearing damage.

‘I can’t be quiet, as that’s when I notice the ringing in my ears,’ he explained in 2020.

‘There’s always a beep there every day, all day. I don’t know exactly how long I’ve had this, but it’s gradually getting worse.’

However, his condition appeared to be worsening, admitting: ‘When I went to the doctor and got an ear test, they said, “your ears are that of someone a lot older”.

‘In 2007, 2013 and this year, I got my frequency tests and the curve, it’s a proper loss,’ he added when speaking to The Sun.

The Black Eyed Peas star has appeared on The Voice UK since it premiered in 2012 (Picture: Rachel Joseph/ ITV/ Rex)

Tinnitus is known to cause a change to the transmission of the signal going from the ear to the part of the brain where sound is processed, known as the auditory cortex.

The disorder affects around 10-15% of the population.

On an episode of last year’s series, will.i.am was praised by viewers for speaking about mental health openly during a chat with former co-star Anne Marie.

After both sharing, they went to therapy after struggles with anxiety, he added: ‘There’s a lot of folks that struggle with that.’

The Voice UK continues tonight at 8.20pm on ITV1.

This article was originally published in January 2019.

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