Was Stephen Hawking Born with ALS
Stephen Hawking was not born with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). He was born on January 8, 1942, in Oxford, England, as a typical infant. ALS is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that usually develops later in life.
When Was Stephen Hawking Diagnosed
Hawking was diagnosed with ALS at age 21, around 1963, while studying at the University of Cambridge. Doctors initially gave him a few years to live. Over time, the disease gradually paralyzed him.
How Stephen Hawking Lived with ALS
Despite his diagnosis, Hawking lived for more than 50 years with ALS. He used a wheelchair and a speech-generating device to communicate. He continued to publish influential physics research and popular science books.
For more background on his life and work, see the Stephen Hawking biography.
