Jenn wrote:

2. The last sentence is obvious hyperbole. "Deafened"?


Uh, 'made deaf(er)', I would think! (to what degree not defined)


I use the term "deafened" like the first definition in my dictionary: to
cause (someone) to lose the power of hearing.

To what degree? Humans with even very profound auditory damage
can peceive some sounds by means other than the ears.

Deafness is not an absolute but a spectrum of impairment. It
is perfectly correct to use deafened for any loss of hearing.

Andy