As early as 1801, he wrote to friends describing his symptoms and the difficulties they caused in both professional and social settings (although it is likely some of his close friends were already aware of the problems).
Så tidligt som 1801 skrev Beethoven til sine venner og fortalte dem om symptomerne og det besvær, de voldte ham i forbindelse med arbejde og sociale begivenheder (det er dog sandsynligt, at nogle af hans nærmeste venner allerede var klar over problemet).