Deaf History Month honors those who innovated American history

Jason Futch ECB Publishing, Inc.  Ludwig van Beethoven, Thomas Edison and Helen Keller are names synonymous with history, but they also share a unique bond. They were trendsetters who also experienced hearing loss, rendering them wholly or partially deaf. Beethoven’s hearing loss came gradually, beginning in his 20s. However, by the time he wrote his ninth symphony, he had been nearly deaf. While he was not completely deaf, Edison experienced partial hearing loss during childhood. While the exact cause for his hearing loss was never determined, it had been suspected that it had been due to a previous bout with Scarlet Fever. According to Edison, his hearing loss influenced his be