Hearing problem hurts Dion's English grasp

OTTAWA, Sept. 8 (UPI) -- Canadian Liberal leader Stephane Dion says he struggles when speaking English because a hearing problem prevents him from catching the "music of the language."

His understanding of English is better than his delivery, he told The (Toronto) Globe and Mail.

"I have difficulty to isolate sounds," said the opposition leader, whose native language is French. "It may explain the fact that the music of the language is difficult for me to catch."

He said he didn't know the name of his condition, but was tested and his mother has the same problem. He told the newspaper his biggest issue was with intonation.

"If I am in a cocktail and everybody is speaking at the same time I will have difficulty and it may affect my ability then to catch the music of the beautiful language of English," he said.

But that does not stop him from listening, he said. His goal is to deliver a perfect short clip on the radio that all Canadians will understand.

"That is my goal. It is difficult," he said.