Schumann, Robert

Composer of several major works, especially for the piano. Sometimes said to have suffered a hearing impairment in later life, it appears that he actually was never hearing-impaired. Rather, he suffered recurrent inner ear disorders including vertigo and "choral trumpets" (tinnitus), possibly symptoms of Meniere's disease. One of his music teachers was Friedrich Weick, a famous piano teacher who also happened to be expert on deafness and hearing aids; Schumann married Weick's daughter Clara.