The Hearing of Erastus “Deaf” Smith, Hero of the Texas Revolution

Abstract

ObjectivesTo describe the speech and hearing abilities of Erastus “Deaf” Smith, the first Texas Ranger, and speculate on the etiology of his hearing loss.MethodsReview of credible historical data of what Erastus could and could not hear, descriptions of his voice, and loudness tolerance. Modern analysis of acoustical physics data generated by 0.69‐inch diameter non‐spinning musket balls.ResultsThe onset of Erastus' bilateral hearing loss was early childhood. He could hear some. He was intolerant of very loud sounds. His speech was “weak”, “squeaky” and high‐pitched. He did not use manual communication. He could not hear musket balls passing near his head. The frequency of sound generated by flying 0.69‐inch diameter musket balls has been determined as predominantly in the range of 2000–2500 Hz. In contrast to most bilateral childhood sensorineural hearing losses that are worse in high and mid frequencies, Erastus' hearing loss was worse in the low and mid frequencies – preserving at least some high‐frequency hearing.ConclusionErastus' reverse‐slope hearing problem may well have been attributable to incomplete partition type III. If you can't hear it, you can't speak it.Level of EvidenceNA Laryngoscope, 134:3532–3536, 2024