Objectives: To describe the speech and hearing abilities of Erastus "Deaf" Smith, the first Texas Ranger, and speculate on the etiology of his hearing loss.
Methods: Review 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.
Results: The 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.
Conclusion: Erastus' 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 evidence: NA Laryngoscope, 2024.
Keywords: X-linked deafness; acoustical analysis; reverse slope hearing loss; voice.
© 2024 The American Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Society, Inc.