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Kenneth M. Stevens, MD; William G. Hemenway, MD

JAMA. 1970;213(3):434-437.

Abstract
Beethoven's deafness began in his left ear at the age of 27 years but soon became a bilateral loss of high-frequency hearing associated with severe tinnitus, recruitment, and poor discrimination. He used ear trumpets and a wooden stick applied to his teeth to aid his hearing. He never had vertigo or purulent otitis. The three periods of Beethoven's composition correspond closely to stages in the progression of his deafness. This interesting correlation has led the authors to speculate on the effect his deafness might have had on the style of his musical composition. Of the possible diagnoses, including syphilis, typhoid fever, and vascular insufficiency, only cochlear otosclerosis as a single otological disease can explain all the clinical symptoms and pathological findings.

Author Affiliations
From the Division of Otolaryngology, University of Colorado Medical Center, Denver.

Footnotes
Reprint requests to 4200 E Ninth Ave, Denver 80220 (Dr. Stevens).

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ABSTRACT