2020 marks the 250th anniversary of Ludwig van Beethoven's birthday. The composer's
hearing impairment is probably the most well-known disorder of a musician. For more
than 200 years, the underlying cause of his deafness has been studied, but still not
fully understood. In this context, the question arises as to how far the currently
available measures of hearing rehabilitation would made it possible for the musician
to receive satisfactory treatment.
On the basis of primary sources, such as letters from the composer, written documents
from his contemporaries and, in particular, Beethoven's detailed autopsy report and
subsequent clinical examinations of his skull, the development of his hearing impairment
is examined, the most likely causes are evaluated and classified in the context of
further illnesses.
In the differential diagnosis, syphilis, chronic lead intoxication, osteodystrophia
deformans, otosclerosis, and autoimmune inflammation of the inner ear are discussed
as possible causes of hearing impairment of the musician.
In the course of the discussion, the existing studies on the individual differential
diagnoses are presented and critically classified in terms of their justifiability
and relevance. In addition, the potential benefit of a cochlear implantation is estimated
for the composer.
Poster-PDF
A-2005.PDF
