Joaquin Arce Opens Up About Being Clinically Deaf in One Ear

The 18-year-old Joaquin Arce began his foray into show business earlier this 2025 with his stint on Pinoy Big Brother: Collab 2.0. As one of Kuya's housemates, the aspiring actor and runway model has been sharing bits about his personal life, which includes his relationship with his stepmother, Angel Locsin.

In a recent social media post, the actress—who has notably kept a low profile over the past few years—shared a health condition of Joaquin's that affects how he socializes with his peers.

On X, Angel quoted a post by the reality show's official account that showed Joaquin in the middle of a tense moment between fellow housemates Inigo Jose and Reich Alim. Joaquin stood in as a mediator between the two when misunderstandings arose in regards to their weekly tasks. Angel writes that she's proud to see her stepson "grow into someone who helps, listens, and keeps the peace at home."

Additionally, she shares that the 18-year-old is actually unable to hear in one ear, which explains why he "talks a bit loud or doesn't respond" when called on. This revelation led many netizens to sympathize with Joaquin, with some resonating with his struggles. In medical terms, the condition is called unilateral hearing loss and can be acquired at birth or through trauma sustained from noise or injuries. A user on social media shared that the condition has made them struggle with socializing, given the lack of hearing capability.

Given that Angel has indefinitely stepped away from the spotlight, netizens were happy to hear from her, especially as she aired her sentiments about her stepson. One X user listed down three factors that could bring the actress back on social media, which included Joaquin.

During the November 26 episode of Pinoy Big Brother, Joaquin got candid about his condition, and how he actually viewed it as a "superpower."

"Pinanganak po akong bingi sa kanang tainga. Never ko po naranasan na may dalawa akong tainga na nakakarinig," the aspiring actor says to Big Brother. Despite his disability, he caveats that he's always seen in a "positive light" despite its negative effects.

"Kasi 'yung mga magulang [ko] po, they treated me like I wasn’t deaf, they didn’t treat me na kawawa ako. They enforced positivity na dahil dito unique ako. As a kid, inisip ko po siya na superpower ko siya," he explained.

Given that his hearing capabilities are limited, Joaquin made it a point to be intently listen to those around him, which includes his fellow housemates. "I guess I became a good listener because of this," he says.

Unilateral hearing loss, otherwise coined as single-sided deafness, can be acquired either at birth—like Joaquin—or through incidents throughout one's life. It's reported to affect about 3-8.3% of the population. While no primary causes have been identified by experts, it's been observed to come from extreme noise, inherited disorders, or physical injuries to the head.

Complications that may arise from such condition include anxiety, social isolation, and issues with localized hearing. Depending on the severity of the hearing loss, one may treat the condition through wearing hearing aids or installing cochlear implants. As with all physical ailments, one is advised to consult with otolaryngologists before self-diagnosing or treating.