London: Ludwig Van Beethoven may not have been deaf after all when he composed his final masterpiece, according to new research.

For over a century, it has been believed that the German composer and pianist had gone "stone deaf" years before he debuted his Ninth Symphony in May 1824.

Not deaf after all? New evidence suggests Ludvig van Beethoven still had some hearing when he composed his most famous symphony.

But now, a professor of musicology has uncovered crucial evidence that suggests that Beethoven actually retained some hearing in his left ear until shortly before his death in March 1827.

Theodore Albrecht, a professor at Kent State University in Ohio, USA, told The Observer: "This is going to send everybody scurrying to revise biological concepts about Beethoven.