In Classical Music: what was the real medical diagnosis of Ludwig van Beethovens deafness?
According to Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ludwig_van_Beethoven), he “suffered a severe form of tinnitus, a “ringing” in his ears that made it hard for him to perceive and appreciate music…” Now tinnitus itself, according to Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tinnitus), “is not itself a disease but a symptom resulting from a range of underlying causes, including ear infections, foreign objects or wax in the ear, and injury from loud noises. Tinnitus is also a side-effect of some oral medications, such as aspirin, and may also result from an abnormally low level of serotonin activity.” There are several treatments for the condition ,but there is no specific cure at this time. However, it seems likely that Beethoven’s condition could have been improved with modern medical treatments. Hope this helps Sources: http://en.wikipedia.
