Editing Pete Townshend (section)

=== Hearing loss ===
Townshend suffers from partial [[deafness]] and [[tinnitus]], likely the result of [[noise-induced hearing loss]] from long-term exposure to loud music. The Who were known as a very loud band in their live performances; for example, a Who concert at the [[Charlton Athletic Football Club]] on 31 May 1976—where the volume level 32 metres from the stage was measured at 126 [[decibel]]s—was listed as the "Loudest Concert Ever" by the [[Guinness Book of Records]]. Townshend has also attributed his hearing loss to the explosion of Keith Moon's drum set during a 1967 Who appearance on ''[[The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour]]''.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Grow |first=Kory |date=4 March 2016 |title=Flashback: Watch the Who Blow Up 'Smothers Brothers' in Primetime |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/flashback-the-who-blow-up-smothers-brothers-in-primetime-20160304 |access-date=15 August 2016 |archive-date=16 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160816180330/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/flashback-the-who-blow-up-smothers-brothers-in-primetime-20160304 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In 1989, Townshend gave the initial funding to allow the formation of the non-profit hearing advocacy group [[H.E.A.R.]] (Hearing Education and Awareness for Rockers). After the Who performed at half-time at [[Super Bowl XLIV]] in 2010, Townshend stated that he is concerned that his tinnitus has grown to such a point that he might be forced to discontinue performing with the band altogether. He told ''Rolling Stone'', "If my hearing is going to be a problem, we're not delaying shows. We're ''finished''. I can't really see any way around the issue." [[Neil Young]] introduced him to an [[Audiology|audiologist]] who suggested he use an [[in-ear monitor]], and although they cancelled their spring 2010 touring schedule, Townshend used the device at their one remaining London concert on 30 March 2010, to ascertain the feasibility of Townshend continuing to perform with the Who.<ref name="Tinnitus RS1">{{cite magazine |last=Kreps |first=Daniel |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2010/02/18/the-whos-future-uncertain-as-townshends-tinnitus-returns/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100221054237/http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2010/02/18/the-whos-future-uncertain-as-townshends-tinnitus-returns/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=21 February 2010 |title=The Who's Future Uncertain as Townshend's Tinnitus Returns |date=8 February 2010 |magazine=Rolling Stone |access-date=21 February 2010}}</ref>

In March 2011, Roger Daltrey said in an interview with the [[BBC]] that Townshend had recently experienced gradual but severe [[hearing loss]] and was trying to save what remained of his hearing: "Pete's having terrible trouble with his hearing. He's got really, really bad problems with it...not tinnitus, it's deterioration and he's seriously now worried about actually losing his hearing".

Referring to that, in July 2011, Townshend wrote at his blog: "My hearing is actually better than ever because after a feedback scare at the [[indigO2]] in December 2008 I am taking good care of it. I have computer systems in my studio that have helped me do my engineering work on the forthcoming Quadrophenia release. I have had assistance from younger forensic engineers and mastering engineers to help me clean up the high frequencies that are out of my range. The same computer systems work wonderfully well on stage, proving to be perfect for me when the Who performed at the Super Bowl and doing Quadrophenia for [[Teenage Cancer Trust|TCT]] at the [[Royal Albert Hall]] in 2010. I'm 66, I don't have perfect hearing, and if I listen to loud music or go to gigs I do tend to get tinnitus".