Determined deaf woman has defied the odds to become talented clarinet player

When Ruth MacMullen was diagnosed as profoundly dead at just 18 months old, doctors said she wouldn’t be able to hear or talk.

But determined not to be beaten, Ruth has defied the odds to not only learn to speak and sing, but also to become a talented clarinet player.

Ruth, 29, was diagnosed as “just one up from total deafness” when she was 18 months old and her parents were told that sign language was her only option.

“There was no history in my family so it took a while for my parents to find out,” she said.

“They realised something was wrong because I was not responding to noises. My mum could drop a stack of saucepans and I wouldn’t wake up.”

Talented - Ruth is now grade six on the clarinet, despite being told she may never be able to even speak (Pictures: SWNS)

Despite the diagnosis, Ruth’s parents BeBe and Philip MacMullen were determined to give their daughter “a normal life” so with the help of a high-powered hearing aid and a speech and language therapist, helped Ruth to learn to speak and even sing.

Ruth, from York, said: “When I was eight I said ‘I really want to learn an instrument’ and They thought it was a brilliant idea. I wanted to learn the flute at first - but it was too soft so I learned the clarinet.”

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She not only learned the clarinet but went on to join an orchestra, a woodwind group and to pass her Grade 6 clarinet exam.

At the age of 13 Ruth was given a “life-changing” cochlear implant, an electronic device that replaces the function of the damaged inner ear.

Songstress - Ruth can also now sing thanks to her cochlear implants

A second implant at 23 helped her hear speech in noisy environments and since then, Ruth’s musical talents have flourished - with her even taking up singing lessons.

She said: “Music was always important to me - I grew up listening to Bob Dylan and the Grateful Dead. Music has been part of my life.

“I can’t tell you how much music means to me. I’m moved by beautiful music - it makes me happy.”

“My mum still thinks it’s a miracle. It sounds cheesy but it’s true.”

Ruth works as a librarian at York St John University as well as working with charities to help people with hearing loss.