Ludwig Van Beethoven suffered from what disease, which eventually caused his deafness?

Reports have noted that Ludwig Van Beethoven suffered from plumbism (lead poisoning) and this is the disease that eventually caused his deafness. Medical experts have stated that at certain levels of exposure and depending upon how long or often a person has contact, lead poisoning will attack the brain and central nervous system to limit sensory-motor skills activity or cause a coma, convulsions, and even death.

Beethoven was able to become a legendary composer, who experienced decades of illness. It caused him to live in misery for most of his life. He was born in 1770 and died in 1827. Beethoven was in discomfort and pain from his 20s until his death at age 56. Scientists and researchers now believe lead poisoning was to blame for his health problems (deafness) and misery.

Beethoven's hair samples and fragments from his skull were studied at the Department of Energy laboratory in Argonne, IL. Results confirmed that the composer was a strong wine drinker, and wine at the time was known to contain high lead levels. He also drank out of a goblet made partially of lead and stayed at a spa where he drank mineral water containing lead. Also, he got excessive doses of lead-based treatments administered by his doctor, and he may have been hyper-sensitive to lead and his body may not have been able to eliminate it. These things, in the end, point directly to the fact that Beethoven undoubtedly had plumbism, causing loss of hearing.