Comment by pmoriarty

I read somewhere that Beethoven could hear by biting down on a piece of metal (on his piano?) that acted like a bone-conduction[1] hearing aid.

If this is true, then the popular conception of Beethoven being completely unable to hear while composing his masterpieces is mistaken.

I'd love to learn more (or be corrected) from anyone who knows more about this.

[1] - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bone_conduction