The Curious Clinicians
72 - Bringing Up Beethoven
Jun 13, 2023
Delve into the mystery of Beethoven's deafness and his health issues, with discussions on potential diagnoses, autopsy findings, genetic analysis revealing insights into his health conditions and a possible affair, exploring heritability of Cogensen's disease, and the valuable insights gained from studying his hair locks.
24:07
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Quick takeaways
- Beethoven's infamous deafness was likely caused by conditions such as Cogan syndrome or syphilis.
- Despite being completely deaf, Beethoven continued to compose groundbreaking music throughout his career.
Deep dives
Beethoven's Hearing Loss and Chronic Ailments
Beethoven's infamous deafness and other chronic ailments he suffered from are investigated in this episode. Autopsy records and recent genetic testing provide insights into the potential causes of his hearing loss. Beethoven's early loss of hearing impacted his career as a composer, yet he continued to compose some of his famous works despite being completely deaf. Various attempts were made to improve his hearing, such as using adaptive aids and special pianos, but they were unsuccessful. The podcast explores the potential unifying diagnoses and theories associated with Beethoven's hearing loss, including Cogan syndrome and syphilis, highlighting the ongoing mystery surrounding his condition.
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