Dr. Paul Dybala: Hello everyone. This is Dr. Paul Dybala with Audiology Online, and today I am speaking with Bryton McClure (www.cbs.com/daytime/yr/about/bios/bryton.shtml) from The Young and The Restless" (www.cbs.com/daytime/yr/). His character, Devon Hamilton has been implanted with a cochlear implant, and Bryton has been nice enough to take some time with us today and talk about his experiences. Bryton, thank you so much for taking time to meet with us today.
Bryton McClure: Of course, thank you very much!
Dybala: If you would, give us a little bit of history of what got you into acting initially, and then what led you to The Young and the Restless?"
Bryton: Absolutely. I started acting from a very young age. When I was 2 years old I began doing commercials and did maybe a handful at that age. My first audition asked for a Disney Mattel commercial, and I got the part. When I was three years old, I auditioned for a television show called, "Family Matters." I played little Richie Crawford on that show for about nine years.
Dybala: Ah yes, you would have played opposite of Jaleel White, who played Steve Urkel on the show.
Bryton: Correct. After that I took a break, finished up school, traveled a little bit of Europe and did music. I released a single, toured over there, got to spread my wings in that area. I came back home when I was about 17, I think. I started getting into auditioning again, and one of the first television auditions that I went out for was The Young and the Restless, and thats when I got the part to play Devon Hamilton. Coming on to the show, I was portraying a foster child. This was a new storyline and that was Devons entrance onto The Young and the Restless. He's a new character, so its fun.
Dybala: How did Devon lose his hearing?
Bryton: On the show he came down with meningitis, and as you know there are a number of possibilities which could come out of that, I know hearing loss is one. A relative of one of the head writers of the show had meningitis when they were very, very young, and I think that's how the story kind of came about. Devon lost his hearing from meningitis, and he was 18 years old on the show.
Dybala: I see. The character went from having normal hearing to suddenly losing his hearing, he was then implanted and now having to learn how to hear again. There was obviously a large emotional component to the shock of experiencing that. Was there anything unique that you did to prepare for that?
Bryton: Well, when they first told me about it, I was a little nervous. You know, it's very difficult when trying to portray a role like that, and I don't think anyone could really truly grasp and understand what it's like losing your hearing unless it actually happened to you. I have friends who have been deaf since birth. No one I actually knew lost their hearing at a later age, which is what happened to Devon. All I could do was to try and put myself in that position.
Dybala: Sure.
Bryton: I just tried to imagine what that would be like and I admit, I was a little nervous about being able to pull it off. I'm happy to report that the response I've gotten back has been very positive. Everyone - from the fans, from people who have had hearing loss, from people who have relatives with hearing loss and even some persons who wear cochlear implants. It's all been so positive, it's made me feel very, very good about the job I tried to do.
Dybala: Thats great. I also know you've been working with Advanced Bionics (www.bionicear.com), who donated the external speech processor, which you now wear on the show. What have you been working with them on, or how have they been interfacing with you?
Bryton: Well they've just been there to make sure that everything has been done accurately, and that everything looks real onscreen and to the audience. The writers have really wanted to make it real-life, because it's not just a normal storyline that you see every day on a soap opera. It is an educational storyline. Advanced Bionics helped to make sure the whole process was done correctly. The actual device that I'm wearing is the actual outside component.
Dybala: In a real cochlear implant surgery, they put the internal implant into the bone in your skull. I guess they didn't have to drill into your head for this!
Bryton: No, they didn't do that. That's about the only thing they didn't have to do, is actually implant it.
Dybala: Now that your character has been implanted, is there anything in the storyline that is changing significantly as far as the way you are able to communicate with other people? You are being rehabilitated with the new cochlear implant, having to re-learn how to hear. How is that being written into the show?
Bryton: Great point, and yes we are trying make things as accurate as possible. They're writing it in that I'm having a bit of difficulty making out every single word, but getting things here and there. It is a process. They are not just trying to say that once I get it I can hear absolutely perfect. I think they're doing a really good job with that.
Dybala: It sounds like they're doing an excellent job. You had mentioned you've been getting some interesting fan mail- people have been talking about what a good job you've been doing portraying this character having hearing loss, and I know there have probably been some interesting experiences in just trying to get your head around this. Are there some stories related to this that you could share with us?
Bryton: While portraying a role like this and in coming in contact with fans, receiving letters and actually meeting people in real life who have told me that their mother or their grandmother has lost their hearing at a very late age and what they went through, and then watching me on the show, I have just received such positive feedback on the accuracy that I guess I'm bringing across. It is a great feeling in that way, to know the job that I'm doing.
Also, it is just something that makes you appreciate things. We take so much for granted every single day, from the simple act of picking up a pencil to hearing the wind blow, and you don't even think about it. When I try and wrap my mind around what it would be like to actually experience something like this, like losing your hearing, it really puts things in perspective. I will never really appreciate what it would feel like to suddenly lose my hearing, but I can feel like I have a greater sense of what to be thankful for every day.
Dybala: I could not agree more. We do millions of little things every day that when you break it down are really amazing hearing is one of those things. Thank you for talking about that.
Well Bryton, we are about out of time. I really appreciate your time today and the work that you're doing. As far as everyone who is reading this interview, The Young and The Restless airs on CBS, so you should take time to tune in and see Bryton and check out what happens next. Bryton, thanks again and good luck in the upcoming seasons on the show.
Bryton: Thank you, Paul and thank you for taking your time to speak with me.
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About Bryton McClure
To read more about The Young and Restless and Bryton McClures character, Devon, go to www.cbs.com/daytime/yr/
About Advanced Bionics
Advanced Bionics Corporation is a global leader in the development of implantable, high-technology neurostimulation devices. Advanced Bionics technologies include new treatments for deafness and chronic pain. They support physicians, clinicians and patients through scientific research, technology development, education and more.
Visit the Advanced Bionics Web Channel on Audiology Online at www.audiologyonline.com/channels/advanced_bionics.asp or go to the Advanced Bionics website at www.bionicear.com/
