Sen. John Fetterman hears voices like character in 'Peanuts' cartoon 'whose words could never be deciphered': Report

The health problems that Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) experiences because of his near-fatal stroke last year are so severe that to him, voices sometime resemble a character from the "Peanuts" cartoon.

What are the details?

The New York Times revealed on Friday the severity of Fetterman's auditory processing issues, a lingering effect of his stroke.

From the Times:

The most evident disability is a neurological condition that impairs his hearing. Mr. Fetterman suffers from auditory processing issues, forcing him to rely primarily on a tablet to transcribe what is being said to him. The hearing issues are inconsistent; they often get worse when he is in a stressful or unfamiliar situation. When it’s bad, Mr. Fetterman has described it as trying to make out the muffled voice of the teacher in the “Peanuts” cartoon, whose words could never be deciphered.

Because of his complications, the Senate has installed new technology to help Fetterman understand proceedings in the Senate and to communicate with his colleagues.

For example, the Senate installed monitors at Fetterman's desk and the center dais in the Senate chamber that provide closed-captioning transcription services, allowing Fetterman to understand what is being said.

According to the Times, the Senate sergeant-at-arms is making similar arraignments for committee hearing rooms.

What is going on now?

The details come after Fetterman was hospitalized on Wednesday.

While attending a retreat for Senate Democrats, Fetterman began "feeling lightheaded." His staff promptly rushed him to the hospital, where he underwent testing. Doctors reportedly ruled out another stoke and later tested him for seizures.

Fetterman remains hospitalized.

Fetterman's chief of staff, Adam Jentleson, suggested in an interview with the the Times that his boss' busy post-stroke schedule may be responsible for the latest health episode.

According to Jentleson, Fetterman "was forced to do as much as possible — he had to get back to the campaign trail," instead of rest and recover.

But no one forced Fetterman to campaign for the Senate. Indeed, Fetterman was pushed to keep running because he had the opportunity to flip a Senate seat that had been long held by Republican Pat Toomey.

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