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NEW YORK — A man who is almost completely deaf is not letting it stop him from pursuing his dream of becoming a DJ, and technology is making it happen.
Robbie Wilde, 27, was 7 years old when an ear infection left him completely deaf in his right ear and 80-percent deaf in his left. It wasn't until four years later that doctors confirmed he was deaf — one of the hardest days of his mother's life.
told CNN. Sapeta said Wilde was "persistent," even as a child, always finishing what he started.
The trait has made a difference as he has pursued his dream of being a professional DJ. He teamed up with Sam Zornow — DJ Shiftee — to learn the tricks of a difficult trade.
Although hearing is the most important sense for most DJ's, Wilde has found ways to succeed without it. He relies on his laptop and DJ software to show him the music, allowing him to differentiate between vocals, bass and kicks.
Wilde feels the vibrations of the music through either the club's speakers or a SubPac, which transfers low frequencies to his body.
His story eventually caught the eye of HP executives, who featured him in a November commercial for the HP Envy.
"It's a true story of inspiration," HP marketing executive Danielle Jones told CNN. "His is a profound story of someone being able to do the things that matter to them and the things that they love through technology."
Wilde is currently preparing multiple original tracks and readying for national and worldwide tours, according to his website.
"I don't want to be looked at as a deaf kid trying to DJ, but a great DJ who happens to be deaf. Believe in yourself, and there is no limit to what you can do," he said.
