Hong Kong actor Matthew Ho (何廣沛) is one of TVB’s rising stars, having caught the public’s attention through appearances on “The Queen of News” and “The Golden Forest”. However, behind the actor’s scene-stealing talents is a struggle that he has faced since childhood.
In a recent interview, Matthew revealed that he suffers from hearing problems due to a congenital problem. The actor said he discovered his hearing abnormality in elementary school, adding that he struggles to distinguish high and low-decibel sounds. Due to his impairment, the actor requires long-term medical attention.
Earlier this year, the actor underwent genetic testing and learned his hearing impairment was related to an abnormality in the DNA molecules responsible for hearing. It’s unknown whether Matthew’s hearing would decline as he ages or remain the same. However, the 37-year-old said he’s mentally prepared for the possibility of needing hearing aids in the future.
Understandably, Matthew’s hearing problems have made things difficult for him at work and in private. The television personality said he has been wrongly perceived as unfriendly and arrogant, simply because he didn’t respond to people, because he can’t hear them. He also lamented not being able to communicate with his fiancée.
When filming “Narcotic Heroes”, Matthew said he had to rely on lip-reading because he couldn’t hear Moses Chan’s (陳豪) hoarse voice. Thankfully, the actor said many of his co-stars are very understanding of his situation. Charmaine Sheh (佘詩曼) even offered some words of encouragement after learning about his impairment, which Matthew said moved him deeply.
Despite the struggles, Matthew remains optimistic and said he won’t let his hearing impairment hinder his acting career. Watch his interview below:
Source: Sin Chew
