The songs I knew by heart penetrated me as I sat there trying to deafen myself.

NEWYORKER: Mr. Bones

From the tiredest brass section he could coax sounds that would deafen less dramatic conductors.

ECONOMIST: Saluting Solti

In fact, all he did was listen, but a certain sort of nagging repetition can deafen you.

NEWYORKER: Mr. Bones

But I prefer that to rigid values that blind and deafen, or individual visions that might not be as smart as the person offering them thinks (lunar base, anyone?).

FORBES: Romney: the Google of Politicians