Was Beethoven deaf at birth?

Summary of the Article

At what age did Beethoven go deaf? Beethoven began to lose his hearing at age 28. By age 44, his hearing loss was complete, most likely caused by compression of the eighth cranial nerve associated with Paget’s disease of bone.

When did Beethoven realize he was going deaf? Beethoven first noticed difficulties with his hearing decades earlier, sometime in 1798, when he was about 28. By the time he was 44 or 45, he was totally deaf and unable to converse unless he passed written notes back and forth to his colleagues, visitors, and friends. He died in 1827 at the age of 56.

How did Beethoven do music if he was deaf? Beethoven was able to compose even when he was deaf with the help of his ‘inner ears’, his recollection of sounds and imagination. He also used ear trumpets to channel sound into his ears and often physical contact with his piano to ‘feel’ the sound waves.

Did Beethoven go deaf because of his dad? Why he went deaf remains unknown. One theory is that his drunken musician-father’s frequent abuse – boxing his son’s ears when displeased with Ludwig’s practicing – contributed. Everyone knows him as the “deaf composer,” but total deafness didn’t set in until around 1815.

Who was famously deaf? Arguably, Beethoven is the most famous Deaf person on our list. He was a German pianist born in 1770 and is regarded as the Greatest Classical Composer ever. Deafness: Beethoven started to lose his hearing at the age of 26, with a suspected disease called typhus (lead poisoning).

Did Beethoven and Mozart ever meet? In 1787, when Beethoven was 16, he traveled to Vienna to meet and study with Mozart.

Why did Beethoven hide his deafness? Beethoven even continued performing publicly as a musician, which was necessary for many composers of the age: That’s how they got their pieces out, not just composing but performing. For the longest time, he didn’t want to reveal his deafness because he believed, justifiably, that it would ruin his career.

Did Beethoven continue to make music while deaf? While his hearing continued to decline over the next 15 years, Beethoven found ways to continue to compose music. At the age of 40, Beethoven was completely deaf, yet this was when he wrote his most famous symphony – Symphony No. 9, also known as The Ninth.

Could Beethoven still compose music after he lost his hearing? Classical composer Ludwig van Beethoven suffered hearing loss, leading to his complete deafness. Yet he was still able to compose masterpieces of music.

How bad was Beethoven’s deafness? Beethoven could apparently still hear some speech and music until 1812. But by the age of 44, he was almost totally deaf and unable to hear voices or so many of the sounds of his beloved countryside. It must have been devastating for him.

Did Beethoven write Fur Elise while deaf? Ludwig van Beethoven was well into his career and almost completely deaf when he wrote his famous piano piece, Fur Elise, in 1810.

Questions and Answers

1. At what age did Beethoven go deaf?
Beethoven began to lose his hearing at age 28. By age 44, his hearing loss was complete, most likely caused by compression of the eighth cranial nerve associated with Paget’s disease of bone.

2. When did Beethoven realize he was going deaf?
Beethoven first noticed difficulties with his hearing decades earlier, sometime in 1798, when he was about 28. By the time he was 44 or 45, he was totally deaf and unable to converse unless he passed written notes back and forth to his colleagues, visitors, and friends. He died in 1827 at the age of 56.

3. How did Beethoven do music if he was deaf?
Beethoven was able to compose even when he was deaf with the help of his ‘inner ears’, his recollection of sounds and imagination. He also used ear trumpets to channel sound into his ears and often physical contact with his piano to ‘feel’ the sound waves.

4. Did Beethoven go deaf because of his dad?
Why he went deaf remains unknown. One theory is that his drunken musician-father’s frequent abuse – boxing his son’s ears when displeased with Ludwig’s practicing – contributed. Everyone knows him as the “deaf composer,” but total deafness didn’t set in until around 1815.

5. Who was famously deaf?
Arguably, Beethoven is the most famous Deaf person on our list. He was a German pianist born in 1770 and is regarded as the Greatest Classical Composer ever. Deafness: Beethoven started to lose his hearing at the age of 26, with a suspected disease called typhus (lead poisoning).

6. Did Beethoven and Mozart ever meet?
In 1787, when Beethoven was 16, he traveled to Vienna to meet and study with Mozart.

7. Why did Beethoven hide his deafness?
Beethoven even continued performing publicly as a musician, which was necessary for many composers of the age: That’s how they got their pieces out, not just composing but performing. For the longest time, he didn’t want to reveal his deafness because he believed, justifiably, that it would ruin his career.

8. Did Beethoven continue to make music while deaf?
While his hearing continued to decline over the next 15 years, Beethoven found ways to continue to compose music. At the age of 40, Beethoven was completely deaf, yet this was when he wrote his most famous symphony – Symphony No. 9, also known as The Ninth.

9. Could Beethoven still compose music after he lost his hearing?
Classical composer Ludwig van Beethoven suffered hearing loss, leading to his complete deafness. Yet he was still able to compose masterpieces of music.

10. How bad was Beethoven’s deafness?
Beethoven could apparently still hear some speech and music until 1812. But by the age of 44, he was almost totally deaf and unable to hear voices or so many of the sounds of his beloved countryside. It must have been devastating for him.

11. Did Beethoven write Fur Elise while deaf?
Ludwig van Beethoven was well into his career and almost completely deaf when he wrote his famous piano piece, Fur Elise, in 1810.