MARLEE MATLIN - DEAFNESS WON'T SLOW MATLIN DOWN ON THE DANCE FLOOR

DEAFNESS WON'T SLOW MATLIN DOWN ON THE DANCE FLOOR

Oscar winner MARLEE MATLIN has urged DANCING WITH THE STARS fans not to pity her as she competes in the sixth season of the hit U.S. TV show - her deafness won't handicap her. The Children Of A Lesser God star insists her hearing problems will leave her able to focus more on her dance steps and her partner on the dance floor. Matlin, who will join Priscilla Presley and Shannon Elizabeth among other contestants on the upcoming show, tells newspaper USA Today, "Seeing as I haven't let it affect my acting, I don't think I'll have more difficulty than other cast members. "You try to imagine what is like when you can't hear the music. I'll let my partner be the music." Matlin, who will be fitted with the latest hearing aids, will call on help from her longtime interpreter Jack Jason for the non-dancefloor aspects of the hit show.