by Neil Bauman, Ph.D.
A lady wrote:
I just discovered references to you on the Internet while I was trying to Google information about what I now know you have coined “Musical Ear Syndrome”.
The MES reference fits me to a “T”, and I am so relieved to find that others experience this, too. I am 47 years old, and I have been hearing music all day long for about a decade. But what I’ve found is that it waxes and wanes depending on my level of anxiety or depression. Its reappearance coincides with increased stress/anxiety/depression.
I have taken Paroxetine three times since 2000. I most recently began taking it again about 12 weeks ago. Prior to that, I had heard music in my head increasingly for about six months. After beginning the Paroxetine, the MES disappeared. However, over the past two weeks it has returned, and I have noticed along with it a slight elevation in my anxiety/depressive symptoms, enough so that I am increasing my dosage.
What I was wondering is whether you have any information about why this seems to be the case with me, is it dangerous (i.e. a precursor to eventual hearing loss or dementia, etc.), should I be checked out for other causes, as I am not elderly, do not live in a totally quiet environment (though I try to keep it that way as much as possible), and am not hard of hearing. Do you think it’s linked to my depression/anxiety issues? Should I be concerned?
You are perceptive. Stress, anxiety and depression are all factors associated with Musical Ear Syndrome.
When I was researching musical ear syndrome, I found 5 things in common in many people, but since then, I’ve heard from numbers of people more or less in your boat—that do not fit the typical MES mold—but nevertheless have the same phantom music.
I’m still trying to figure out why it affects people like you—but I have noticed that anxiety/stress/depression may be a common thread.
I do not believe that it is a precursor to anything such as hearing loss or going crazy. I think it is just the way your body/brain reacts to stress/anxiety/depression.
Let me explain the roles of anxiety and depression in this. When you are anxious, essentially your body is in the “fight or flight” mode—and all your senses are heightened. This means your hearing is more sensitive too—so you hear things you wouldn’t otherwise—and maybe this includes faint phantom sounds rattling around in your auditory system that you were not otherwise aware were there. (This is also why anxious people tend to have hyperacusis—hear normal sounds as too loud—the internal volume control is turned up too high and stays there.)
Now for the role of depression. When you are depressed you normally turn your focus from the external to the internal. Thus, you become more aware of the internal workings of your body and “notice” the phantom sounds. Because you are depressed, you focus on these sounds more and more wondering what is happening to you—and these sounds become more and more intrusive and louder in the process because your limbic (emotional) system is flagging them as important since you are worrying over them. Thus begins the vicious circle.
What you need to do is get your anxiety and depression under control and hopefully these phantom sounds will begin to fade into the background again.
To learn more, read this article about Musical Ear Syndrome, or get the book “Phantom Voices, Ethereal Music & Other Spooky Sounds“.
Hi Neil,
Re the above: I got bullied at school over 20 years ago and began having the “fight or flight” symptoms you mention which I left untreated and allowed my nervous system to get exhausted at which point I began hearing music in my head similar to the lady above. I was diagnosed as having Depressive Psychosis. At no point did I lose my “sense” or “reason” and knew I was unwell. I do notice that when I feel anxious or panicky the music seems worse. The music has never got any worse nor has it led to any other problems. Over the years I have tried every thing to find out why I developed the illness in the first place and why I could not respond to counselling for the bullying. One of the interesting things that emerged is that I am dyspraxic. I went to a neurologist called Dr. Harold Levension who diagnosed a disorder of the inner ear which caused dyslexia He also mentioned that I had exceptional ability at music. (I did not mention the fact that I had a problem with hearing phantom music) I queried this with a college career guidance counsellor who sent me for a test to see if I was dyslexic. It came back negative but with the suggestion that I may have dyspraxia. I was then sent to a psychologist who confirmed that it was dyspraxia. Both tests revealed that I have very good auditory and verbal ability. I was studying Electronics Engineering and one suggestion made to me was that I try Sound Engineering as a career. I wonder if there is any correlation between MES and the above.
Regards,
Pat
NOT ONLY DO I HEAR MUSIC BUT AT TIMES AT NIGHT, I AM AWAKENED BY LOUD NOISE, AS IF THERE WAS SOMEBODY PLAYING A RADIO OR TV. THE SONDS WOULD FADE AWAY ONLY TO REPEAT INANOTHER HOUR OR SO. I WAS AWAKENED 4 TIMES LAST NIGHT. I HAVE AN APPT. WITH AN EAR DR. UIN A WEEK. I THIMK I AM GOING CRAZY.
Hi Miriam:
You’re not crazy, you just have a case of Musical Ear Syndrome. Have you read my comprehensive article on the subject at http://hearinglosshelp.com/blog/musical-ear-syndrome-the-phantom-voices-ethereal-music-other-spooky-sounds-many-hard-of-hearing-people-secretly-experience/ ? If not, it will give you good advice on dealing with this condition.
Cordially,
Neil
Hi Pat:
“…allowed my nervous system to get exhausted at which point I began hearing music in my head similar to the lady above.”
Seems that will do it alright in some people.
“I do notice that when I feel anxious or panicky the music seems worse.”
That makes sense if your phantom music is mostly caused by anxiety in the first place.
“I was then sent to a psychologist who confirmed that it was dyspraxia.”
All dyspraxia is as I understand it, is a fancy word that means an organ (in this case your ears) is not working properly. You already knew this. You didn’t need a doctor to “diagnose” it. So dyspraxia isn’t a disease as such. In other words, they don’t have a clue what is going on–so hide behind a fancy word that doesn’t really mean anything. And for this they get paid the big bucks!
“Both tests revealed that I have very good auditory and verbal ability. I was studying Electronics Engineering and one suggestion made to me was that I try Sound Engineering as a career. I wonder if there is any correlation between MES and the above.”
Good question–and I don’t have an answer either.
Regards
Neil
Hi there,
I am a medical student.
I experience MES twice.one was two years back when i had a very stressful time.and it last for around 4 months.but when i forgot about it and engaged in my works it disappeared..when i had it for the first time i thought i was going crazy.but then i realised i am alryt.
Again 1 wk back i start experiencing mes again when it was raining..actually i was not stressed.but the sound of rain reminds me of my experience of MES which i got two years back.and i got stressed and tensed thinking abt MES and the stressful situation which i had gone though.i dont even want to think about that episode.because the fear of becoming psychotic is making me anxious.i am really scared.palpitations and chestburn is what i feel now.after reading your article i feel relaxed.but that fear is still there when fan is on.may be most of us experience this.but very few notices.those who notice it il get attacks again i guess..because first time when i got mes i was reading psychiatry article about schizophrenia.i got scared aftr reading it..,i was thinking what if i hear some voice.there it started stress and anxiety.may be dat was medical student syndrome.that fear made me to capture all minute sounds.
What i realised is that when u get anxiety your senses are heightened.you get hyperaccusis.and can even hear the sound of wind coming from a fan.that too is making music like pattern.i know i am alryt.but still i am anxious and tensed.
I really want to get rid of this.and i am scared of loosing my sense.pls advice.
Hi Zaara:
Musical Ear Syndrome is nothing to be worried about. Just because your medical books scare you into thinking that hearing phantom sounds means you are crazy doesn’t make it true. As I’ve pointed out many times, there are two kinds of phantom sounds–psychiatric auditory hallucinations and non-psychiatric auditory hallucinations.
If you hear the former, you have a mental illness such as schizophrenia.
However, if you have the latter, you have conditions such as tinnitus (and no one calls people that have tinnitus crazy), and Musical Ear Syndrome. Some forms of Musical Ear Syndrome are actually audio pareidolia or apophenia. This is where your brain tries to find patterns in random sounds such as a fan running. You may hear this as vague music or what sounds like people talking in the distance–but all it really is is the sounds of a fan running. Again, this is not a psychiatric condition–just normal brain function coming on a bit strong.
You need to get your anxiety and stress under control. Both can bring on MES type of sounds–but that doesn’t make you crazy. When you hear MES sounds, you are NOT psychotic.
Probably the best way to deal with your MES is to realize what is happening and gain some peace of mind over this, then it will not bother you, and if you are lucky it will fade away. It may come back again if you get really stressed or anxious, but it should fade away again as you get your anxiety under control.
Cordially,
Neil
What are your credentials if you don’t mind a reply. Drs don’t recognize musical ear. At least the drs I talked to don’t hear me. They say it s psychosis.
Hi Elizabeth:
I don’t mind at all. My two doctorates are in fields totally unrelated to ears, medicine, pharmacy, audiology, etc. Aren’t you glad? That way I don’t have to be bound by how many medical doctors (ignorantly) approach MES and assume it is a psychiatric condition–yet don’t know a thing about it.
To be fair, there are a number of doctors, including psychiatrists, that do understand that MES is NOT a psychiatric condition. I’ve had doctors and ENTs actually send their patients to me so I could help them.
Over the past 15 years or so I have helped multiplied thousands of people deal with their MES. In addition, I’ve written more than 30 articles and one book on the subject, plus done a research project involving more than 1,500 people. (Still need to find the time to finish compiling and writing up the results.) So my credentials for MES are not academic, but where the “rubber meets the road”–helping people successfully deal with their MES.
Cordially,
Neil
I have a multi-tonal tinnitus in which I have complete control of one of the pitches. I am a musician and can make whatever music I want to hear and have composed music in my head. It sounds like an orchestra of theramins. I’ve offered myself as a guinea pig to be tested as it seems like there is value in that, but have gotten no response. I’m retired and can afford to pay all travel expenses. If you know an aspiring grad student or facility that would be interested let me know.
Hello,
My name is Mo, and i am 32 years old.
i am suffering from schizo-affective disorder and i have had 4 time psychosis during 6 years.
Since last psychosis i began to hear songs/music in my head. It is like a song is stuck in my head and i hear it everyday. But not like through my ears but litterally in my head.
i alwasy had song stuck in my head but not as often as now it is.
Is it actually MES what i am experiencing?
does is have any relationship with the medicine(olanzapine) that i am taking and why am i starting to hear it so often. i dont know what causes it. will it go away if i stop medication or just by itself?
Hi Mo:
If you have a song, or thoughts, etc. that go round and round in your head, that is most likely what they colloquially call “ear worms”. This is not MES. With MES, you hear “sounds” that seem to come from your ears and thus often have directionality.
Ear worms do not seem to come from your ears, nor do they have directionality.
It is possible that the Olanzapine you are taking is causing it as Olanzapine is known to cause hallucinations. You could try stopping taking this drug (run it by your doctor of course) and see whether it goes away or gets less. If so, then you’ll know it was the Olanzapine. That would be the first thing I’d try if it were me.
Cordially,
Neil
I’ve experienced a handful of episodes of psychotic depression (depersonalization/dissociation and some hallucinations my psych said sounded like bad acid tripping) during those periods, I’d hear music. It took me a long time to figure out the music was not an external source but in my head. I’m talking full orchestral works with dynamic changes along with some Beatles and Ska and styles I don’t listen to like reggae. I thought my neighbors kept playing music loud or a radio was left on in another room. What in this case differentiates MES from auditory hallucinations or is it both? When my anxiety level gets to a certain threshold or my depression stays intense I know it’s time to fight harder because I hear music as if it were coming through a speaker.
Hi Leigh:
MES sounds ARE auditory hallucinations. But so are the sounds that result from taking various anti-psychotic drugs. In my experience, the sounds people hear, if it is pure MES, are like you experience–the radio in the other room, orchestral music and various other music. Auditory hallucinations from certain drugs give more of a nightmarish experience–evil voices, people talking to or about you and telling you to do bad things, etc., rather than hearing nice music.
If you are on any drugs for your depression, etc., it’s possible you could experience both causes. However, if you only have the MES sounds mentioned above, I’d think you just have MES. MES is more common if you are depressed and/or stressed so getting those emotions under control should help reduce your episodes of MES.
Cordially,
Neil
Hi,
I have gone on and off of Paxil 3 times in the last three years. And have not been able to do so because of the major mind and body withdrawal. I wanted to do this to have a baby.
Normally I can just go back on the paxil with no problems. However the last time I was going off of it, I started to get tinnitus and musically auditory hallucinations. I decided to go back on the paxil, because it has always worked well for me. Around the same time I went to a music festival that could have caused damage as well. However I still have tinnitus and the musical auditory hallucinations. Songs I hear around me get stuck in my head, or songs that I have listened to in the past are there. The tinnitus seems to be getting better. And the songs have become fainter. Do you think the hallucinations will go away with time???
My GP thinks it is MES and it should heal in due time. The tinnitus is also only in my right ear.
Please let me know if you have any guidance on this. Thank you.
Best, Puja
Hi Puja:
In order to go off Paroxetine (Paxil) or other SSRIs, you want to taper of them very slowly. This may take 9 months or more. I think you are trying to taper off too fast and that is why you have to go back on again.
I’m with you in that if you can, it would be much better for your baby’s health, to have a mother that is drug-free.
If your tinnitus is becoming fainter and fainter, this is an excellent sign that you are getting your tinnitus under control so it will no longer bother you. You may find the MES will also tend to fade away with your tinnitus–or it may not. I can’t say.
Cordially,
Neil
Puja, I take Effexor and it has a similar horrific withdrawl. I recently read about using a “Prozac” bridge. You slowly and carefully taper off of the medication. At a certain point, you supplement with Prozac, eventually eliminate the original med, then go off the Prozac. I don’t know the specifics. Ask your doctor if this might work for you.
I have had tinnitus for over 30 years now but sometime within the last 10 years I started hearing rock and roll music particularly when my tinnitus gets a louder and I am in a quiet place. It doesn’t always manifest itself as music. Sometimes it sounds like a radio station in my head. I can hear the tones of how a radio announcer would talk but I can never make out any words. Same with the music. The drums are always clear. I can hear the beat of the drums perfectly along with the sounds of symbols and it is a constant rhythm. I just got over having a head cold and my ears still feel a little plugged. Could it just be from fluid in the inner ears or a wax build up?
Hi Carol:
I rather doubt that your MES experiences are the result of wax build up or fluid in your middle (not inner) ears since you have heard such phantom sounds for about 10 years now. Your head cold could temporarily have made it seem worse now.
Cordially,
Neil
Hello, Doc
I am 39 years old.
I first started experiencing hearing repetitive music when I was 17, it was a well known christmas song with the same chorus on repeat. I noticed it coming out of a shower where there was a fan in the bathroom. This is something that has come and gone over the years, I could never pin point what brings it on, either stress or anxiety. I have a degree of hearing loss in my right ear and tinnitus, but this condition came back late last year, 2021, after a stressful event, I been on the antidepressant, Mirtazapine, at times it seems like this was going away only to come back, I hear the music greatly and more vividly around fans, running water, engines. What I’d like to know really is if I’m suffering from musical hallucinations or Audio Pareidolia, when I sometimes sit in silence I swear I can hear the repetitive music very slightly, but is that my imagination? Also could the tinnitus I have already be conducting a type of sound that is causing me to hear the music? Like a fan would when I’m next to one, and this why I think I can hear the music slightly when I’m in silence.
Hi Christopher:
From what you have said, I really think you have been experiencing audio pareidolia for the past 20 years or so. In your case, no doubt it is exacerbated by stress/anxiety.
It’s hard whether to tell whether you are hearing faint auditory hallucinations–either because you have Musical Ear Syndrome or because of the Mirtazapine which can cause them, or if it is just your overactive imagination.
In any case, I don’t think you have anything to worry about in this regard. Get your anxiety/stress under control and you should be fine.
Cordially,
Neil
Thank you so much for your reply. I did wonder back last year if Mirtazapine was actually causing it, I came off it without lowering my dose, which was hard as I was on the lowest dose so it was a matter of just stopping it. I still had the music a week after. And then some time later I decided to carry on taking it but only having half a pill and so on, I did notice a difference, but that could be my mind making a placebo effect in thinking lowering the dose was making me feel better rather than coming off it all together. I do take a strong pain killer med known as tramadol, but this is a medication I have been taking for about ten years, I would have known sometime ago if tramadol was causing this condition to become worse and would have come off it and since I first started experiencing the music, it was long before I started taking tramadol, though I have found in the past that sleeping tablets have made the condition worse, especially Zopiclone. I’m just unsure if the tramadol is keeping the condition going even though it was brought on by stress and anxiety. That’s something that could cause me to be in a pickle. I find the condition very scary as I did many years ago when I first started hearing the music, because it’s on loop, the same chorus. That’s what disturbs me most about it. But I’m extremely grateful you replied to me.
Hi Christopher:
Be aware that both Tramadol and Zopiclone can cause auditory hallucinations.
But they should not be directly related to your audio pareidolia, but can be related to your state of mind/emotions (anxiety/stress/etc). So if the music gets louder or begins due to a constant background sound such as a fan or motor running, then you have audio pareidolia and it should stop instantly when the fan/motor/etc turns off.
Any other residual sound/music could be due to Musical Ear Syndrome or the drugs you are taking.
It seems that you have two conditions going on at the same time and the audio pareidolia, instead of creating its own sound, makes your existing MES sound louder. I’ve never run across this before.
Cordially,
Neil
My name is Rudy i’m 64 years old have hearing lost and musical ear syndrome going on 3 months now have lots of music going on ent says everything ok can’t sleep .what kind of sound generator should I use to habituate what should I do
Hi Rudy:
Use whatever kind of sound generator works best for you. Some people like white or pink noise, some like fractal music, some like environmental sounds (wind, water, insects, etc), some people like regular music, some people just use fans. You want the sound to not be annoying to you or you’ll just compound your problems.
If your hearing loss is so great (severe or worse) so that you can’t mask your MES because you’d need so much volume you’d wake the whole neighborhood, then you have to use other means. For example, I sing songs in my head and focus on the words so I can ignore my tinnitus if it tries to bother me. If that isn’t enough, I really load my brain down and sing (in my mind) and also at the same time sign the words (also in my mind–I’m not moving my hands). The only problem is that with all this mental activity going on, my brain is too busy to go to sleep! LOL
Cordially,
Neil
Hi Neil,
We used to sleep with a fan on in the room for many years before it died. We now bought a white noise maker and sometimes I hear patterns in the white noise that are distracting when I try to sleep. I suffer from mild/moderate anxiety and I have noticed that the patterns are more often present when my anxiety is flairing up. I take Xanax on rare occasion when the anxiety becomes a problem, but no other meds.
Is this MES or something else? When I ask people if they ever hear loops or patterns in their white noise makers, they look puzzled. One person commented “It’s probably because you’re a musician,” but I never noticed it before and I’ve played music for many years.
Any advice on avoiding the loops/patterns would be appreciated.
Hi Tony:
When you hear patterns in white or an constant background sounds you are experiencing audio pareidolia. This is where your brain finds the closest pattern to what you are hearing and forces that pattern on the white noise (in your case). The pattern may be a close fit, or way off–but that is what your brain locks on to–so you “hear” that particular pattern–often a kind of music.
You can read more about audio pareidolia in my article at http://hearinglosshelp.com/blog/apophenia-audio-pareidolia-and-musical-ear-syndrome/
Technically, audio pareidolia is not MES, but because at first I thought it was, I included it under the MES umbrella.
To stop audio pareidolia is very simple. Just turn off the sound that is producing it. Try another sound rather than white noise–perhaps environmental sounds or fractal music or whatever helps you sleep without your brain being able to force an unwanted pattern to it.
For example, your brain cannot force a pattern to fractal music as it is designed to have no repeating pattern. Sounds that continuous, in the background, are the most likely to have result in audio pareidolia so avoid air conditioners, fans, motors and such like when you are sleeping as much as possible.
Cordially,
Neil
Hi Neil,
Over the past few days is actually the first time I’ve experienced MES and am experiencing it as I speak. I’ve recently began taking 50 mg of Zoloft daily about 2 weeks ago for anxiety.
I’ll give a bit of background. I’ve always had a bit of hearing loss in my left ear as a child but never something that was bothersome. I’ll mention that I’m prone to alcohol binges and drank for about 8 or 9 days durring which I just decided to not take the zoloft as I would since I understood it should not really have been having an effect yet and I would have plenty of serotonin with the booze already.
Yesterday was the first day I resumed the Zoloft as while I was withdrawing from the alcohol I am also battling the flu and bronchitis.
Also, when I drink I tend to play some songs repeatedly – too much so actually – and these are the songs I’m hearing. It’s not necessarily always unpleasant however annoying when I’m trying to sleep.
I am also hearing television shows in other rooms and have to go check if they are on. I was amazed that my girlfriend could not hear the music in the same rooms I did and so I had to jump on google. Hehe.
I have not yet taken my Zoloft today and am just wondering if I should so so? Maybe the 50mg is too much for my weakened body at this point and I should lower the dosage? I know the dangerous situation I’m putting myself in with the drinking and I’m working on cutting down on that majorly.
I guess I’m just wondering that if I’ve somehow gone and given myself MES if it is going to be a permanent problem or just temporary. Any help you could give would be appreciated. Thanks!
Hi Richie:
Sertraline (Zoloft) causes auditory hallucinations (which may be Musical Ear Syndrome kinds of sounds) in large numbers of people. So if your MES began AFTER you began taking the Zoloft, that could be the reason. If it is, getting off the Zoloft may let the MES disappear. But there are no guarantees that this will happen, but you can be hopeful.
I don’t know how the alcohol factors into the mix–but really work on getting your intake down to a reasonable level because bad things can happen when alcohol and certain drugs mix.
Cordially,
Neil
I have has MES for about two months now. I am a very active 76 year old. I have worn hearing aides for about 6 years. I am not under any stress. I am very happily married I am not depressed in any way.
After hearing songs such as America the Beautiful and the Halls of MontezumaOnward Christian soldiers , I decidedto try talking to my brain. It would repeat everything I said in sing song. Sometimes it sings “lady, lady yoir hearinng is crazy.” not funny. All I have to do is think of the words to any song and mentally sing a few bars and they finish the song and if I make a mistake they corect it. One evening it replayed the music from a sitcom.I asked my husband to sing a song in my ear 2 times and when he stopped thet played the song. It gets better.On my way to a dr’s appt I said “My doctor is Doctor Morton several times. When I reached his office I said “my Doctor is ? The voice said Dr. Morton several times. I’ve done the same thing with my phome number and address. Even weeks later it still remembers it.So far it’s kind of a fun game. It is annoying at bed time.
Hi Neil,
You have described my situation to a T. Last year, I had a seizure caused by some medication. It was the least serious kind. I went to the ER. That night, I started hearing a band playing. We were visiting my brother at his apartment so I thought someone was having a party. So I woke everyone up who would let me and asked if they hear it. Everyone said to the point of annoyance. So just put my ear buds in and tried to go to sleep. The next day I didn’t hear anything. We went to an an aquarium filled with birds and you know what happens next. It came back only louder and worse. Long story short.. No one heard it but me. Saw my doc when I got home. HE said MES. Put me on zoloft and klonopin for the (non-epileptic) seizure. I used to drink and recently quit. Through the last year I was on and off of zoloft because I wanted to drink. SO. About three days ago after I quit drinking, I took my zoloft. The last two nights I’ve been hearing tv shows that I’d played recently, music that I had played recently, random talking… I knew what it was. I hoping within a couple of weeks, they will slowly fade.
I am so happy I saw this! Whenever my stress levels are high I hear church bells!!! We stay on a rural farm…
Neil, could it be the anti depressants causing this? I don’t ever remember hearing music that wasn’t there before I started taking prescription drugs.
Hi Mary:
Most definitely. Anti-depressants can cause various auditory hallucinations. Unfortunately doctors don’t break them down into psychiatric (mental illness) and non-psychiatric (Musical Ear syndrome) groups, but lump them all together as though they were all psychiatric cases.
Cordially,
Neil
hi im a 46yr old lady who has mes i dont think iv been properly diagnoised that i dont think the doctors have a clue about it thats why im not getting anywhere im deaf but its only voices i cant hear i can hear everything else i hear music and noices all the time if i start to sing a song in my head it will start playing also if im reading the subtitles and its a song it will play eg. if im watching neighbours and the words come on the screen it plays in my head all day over and over again just the courous not the full song i got it 3 yrs ago at the time i was drinking heavely having surgery i also have bipolar im on strong painkillers morphine and duloxetine for my bipolar im very depressed with this i feel i have no life yet and theres no cure and im going to be like this forever i cant relate to everything on here the noices i hear sounds like yr on a train or something then i have music i also have a voice which just repeats my name over and over again i would love some help please
Hi Diane:
Where do you hear these phantom sounds–in your head–by this I mean, running through your mind, or do you hear them as though they were coming from your ears? If it is the former, then it’s more like an earworm, whereas if it is the latter, then it is likely auditory hallucinations of one sort or another, possibly Musical Ear Syndrome.
Both the Morphine and the Duloxetine can cause these phantom auditory hallucinations. Perhaps if you get your doctor to change your medications, you may find that these phantom sounds go away. Think back, did you have these phantom sounds before you began the Morphine and the Duloxetine? If they only came since you began these medications, this is a strong circumstantial evidence that these drugs are probably the culprits.
Cordially,
Neil
i had these before the morphine im not to sure about the duloxatine i didnt take it today i need the morphine as i have a broken shoulder and arm and waiting for surgery been ages today i can feel it more in my left ear its 3 kinds of music not proper music just der der der der and when i put my finger in my ear it goes quieter its hard to explain somrtimes i went like this after had a breakdown and ended up getting sectioned like now i cant hear the tv at all usually i can not hear what there saying tho tonight just compleate silence i can hear my fingers clicking the keybourd and my own voice i can think of a song and begin singing it in my head and it will play over and over again the voices they just say diane over and over again its scary and i have leave light on iv had all tests at hospital and there all ok
Good morning doctor, I have been diagnosed with the sindorme de charles bonnet plus, or musical ear syndrome.
From the month of April I listen to my music of soundtracks, songs and phrases repeated incessantly. When I play music, it disappears, but after a while the sound inside me returns again.
The treatment I do is Queatipine qualigen 50mg with the next dose. Morning to wake up fasting 1 tablet of 50mg, at midday a pill of 25mg and at night one hour before going to bed 1 tablet of 50 mg and one of 25mg.
Can this disorder be canceled forever?
Do you believe that this medication is correct? or there is something else to be able to cure or improve this disorder so great that it originates to listen to this music. I need hope
Thank you very much, receive my thanks.
Hi Mercedes:
What kinds of things do you see with your Charles Bonnet syndrome? It is not common to have both Charles Bonnet syndrome AND Musical Ear Syndrome, but it can occur.
I sure wouldn’t take Quetiapine for these conditions. This is an antipsychotic drug and your are not crazy. So why would you take it? I sure wouldn’t if I were in your shoes. In fact, this drug CAUSES auditory hallucinations in thousands of people–just the opposite of what you want to happen.
If your MES goes away when you listen to music, then listening to low-level background music day and night may be helpful so it doesn’t bother you and you can get a good night’s sleep.
What happened that was different back in March or April that might have caused the phantom music to start? Any ideas? Did you start any new medications or increase the dose on any existing medications? Were you under a lot of stress or anxiety, or were you depressed? It helps to try to find the cause as that makes it easier to know how to best deal with it.
Having MES is nothing to worry about. I know thousands upon thousands of people that have MES.
Cordially,
Neil
I have been searching for info about the music, voices, etc. in my head. Thankfully came across your site. I’ve had tinnitus since l980. Got better when taking Xanax. Then didn’t need it any more. But have started having serious hearing loss since last summer and have worn hearing aids for several years before this. I am on Percocet for chronic pain – can hardly do anything without serious pain. My husband is my “caretaker” now. Pain dr. says I can’t take Xanax unless I get off of pain pills (which don’t seem to help much anyway but worse pain if I try to get off of them) I also take an anti-depressant and other meds for BP. I am very depressed a lot of the time and have much anxiety. Can’t sleep much at night but do take Lunesta. Can you recommend someone in the Phoenix, AZ area that could help me? My audiologist said no hearing aids will help my hearing any more since all the cells are dead. Went to a “new” audio. and and ENT and both didn’t seem to know anything about “voices, sounds in the ears” ! I would appreciate any suggestions. I have tried many things for pain and for tinnitus. Just finished three months of CBD oil capsules from my pain dr. and they did nothing for pain. Thank you.
Hello Dr. Bauman, I have had tinnitus for about 10 years now (i am only 27) Recently after a bad withdrawal from alcohol I was up on day 4 with no sleep due to how severe the withdrawal was, i was laying in bed trying to sleep, i was hallucinating and was half asleep/awake i felt like i was in a video game and the background music of the game was quite intense. I eventually had enough and opened up by eyes to come to the realization that the music was still playing. It was in my right ear and was like i had a headphone almost full blast. I ended up having a panic attack, then the music switched ear. It was country music, so i actually put headphones in my ears to a techno song because i hate country music and after listening to the music for about 5 minutes it actually changed the country song to the techno song. I kept telling myself it was all apart of the withdrawal. Went to see a doctor and i was told the same thing and to just give it time. After about two weeks it went down but has never went away. It’s been about 4 months. So back to the tinnitus, that wen’t from a 2/10 to a 10/10 It’s so loud now that it actually helps mask the MES. I got about 6 or so different pitches of tinnitus. It’s worse in my left ear then my right. I’m declining at a alarming rate. I have always had slight visual snow but now it is more intense. I am now experiencing eye floaters and palinopsia. Tinnitus is getting worse. I got brain fog and pressure in my head. I get hot spots in my brain as well. I’m currently on olanzapine but it’s not helping…probably because i’m not crazy? I also have very severe palpitations to the point i can’t even exercise. I apparently have OCD, GAD, Social Anxiety, Tinnitus, MES and god knows what else. Im at the point where i think it could be lyme disease? What are your thoughts? I am not getting better just worse and worse.
Hi Nathan:
Personally, I’d get off the Olanzapine as it is know to cause auditory hallucinations in hundreds and hundreds of people. So it could just be making things worse for you.
You obviously need professional help to deal with your tinnitus. Seek out a tinnitus clinic that is run by an audiologist. They should be able to help you.
Cordially,
Neil
Dr. Bauman,
In late 2018 I began experiencing very high anxiety. At first when the anxiety would get very bad 1/8th inch round red bumps would appear on my forearms and lower legs. A couple weeks later I began feeling a rapid, rhythmic pulsing at the top of my head. No headaches. I am taking Lorazepam and Temazepam for the anxiety and it’s not working and I seem to have become resistant to its impact.
When I began taking Paroxetine I began hearing bits of Christmas songs to the beat of the rhythmic pulsing. Anxiety still difficult. Taken every non habit forming and non SSRI anxiety medication. Cannot find a psychiatrist who is willing to test for OCD and/or try the last anxiety medication I haven’t taken buspirone. Thoughts?
Hi Andrew:
My first question is what caused your anxiety? The way to deal with anxiety is not to try to drug it into submission, but deal with the cause of your anxiety on let it go. Then you are free from it.
Paroxetine is well known to cause auditory hallucinations such as the bits of Christmas songs you started hearing. Hundreds and hundreds of people have reported hearing such phantom sounds when taking Paroxetine.
Why do you think Buspirone will help? Although not as ototoxic as Paroxetine, it still is ototoxic.
I’m curious, how is being tested for OCD going to help you deal with your anxiety?
Cordially,
Neil
I was put on Trintellix,for high anxiety,and severe depression,but,after two weeks,my stmptoms got worse,ands was taken off,and put on ,Paxil,that I have taken,in the past,and helped me.It has only been,10 days,off Trintellix,and 8 days,,on Paxil.Feel a bit less depressed,but songs keep playing,over,in my head.Will this go away,after taking the Paxil,longer?I have had this earworm,before,but,not quite,to this degree.
Hi Pat:
Actually, Paroxetine (Paxil) is a cause of various auditory hallucinations which includes MES sounds.
Ear worms and Musical Ear Syndrome are different things. You hear earworms in your mind–you play things over and over in your mind. With MES, you “hear” sounds as though they were coming from your ears.
Cordially,
Neil
Hi Neil
I am a 76 yr old female . I have had hearing aides for about 6 yrs and have been experiencing MES for about 4 months. I am not stressed or have anxiety about anything in particular. When playing tennis or exercising is about the only time I don’t have Tinnitis or MES. My hearing aides are capable of streaming with the TV which is wonderful for cutting out all the outside interference. My biggest problem is sleeping….as soon as things get quiet the music begins and is relentless. Do you know if acupuncture has been tried to alleviate any of MES symptoms? At the moment I’m on Prednisone for post knee surgery inflammation and I was wondering if that also may have an affect as it seems to have gotten more pronounced while on the drug.
Hi Nancy:
Yes, acupuncture has been tried, but with limited success. I’ve heard the odd report of success, but generally it doesn’t really help. You could always try it if you are so inclined and see what happens. And if it works let us know.
There are a number of reports of Prednisone causing phantom sounds, so you may be right that it is making your MES worse.
If you have trouble sleeping try putting on some real music for your brain to listen to. Or you may find you like environmental sounds–water running, waves on the beach, rainfall, or birdsong–whatever works for you. You can download all sorts of recordings of the above from the Internet. You don’t have to play them so loud they drown out your MES–just loud enough that you can hear them. So if that helps you get to sleep.
Cordially,
Neil
I at certain times hear voices,singing, whispers and from all I’ve read about mes is that they come from like they say fans,motor cars driving by, distant radio notice or people talking from a distance.but I don’t find it nice all the time it my start when I’m lonley and seems like I’m talking with someone at times hard to understand like I hear half of what they say and I seem to I think finish it off with my own mind but at times is pretty clear depending on which noise is creating it like realie busy road noise can make it full on and fridge or freezer noice can make it dim and hard to understand but it can get realie over whelming at times because the voices these sounds create seem to belittle me and try to cause me anxiety or try to make me mad and if I remain in the areas that these certain noises are it can become very stressful but if I move away go for a walk to a nice quiet park it seems to make it all go away but if I car drives by with its radio on its comes back till the car has driven away but if just say a plane flys over the sound of it will create a musical sound and the voices that I hear through these noises seem real and at most of the times realie mean it like it’s been programmed in my head to hear certain thing witch these different sounds create like just say hipnosis when I am in or reach a certain state of mind these certain noises will cause you to hear various different voices saying pretty much similar things over and over again moving on to something else and some thing repete over and over again like a group of people secretly using there voices to bully and harrass me and cause me anxiety, nervousness,panic attacks,and does not allow me to relax or rest and they also try to make me feel like my privacy is being invaded and that I’m not alone it can get realie overwhelming at certain times and it just doesn’t feel right…it’s like something been done to use something like mes and some other kind minipulation to use as a scare tactic or something to control me to do as they say or they use it as punishment against me and the thing they say are realie for my own good but Im a single independent man and good citerzen and I should be able to live life as I please and do as I please with out unidentified person using some kind of voise and sound trick to controll me like a radio controlled car down the path of live…this is my problem its like I said only at certain times of states of mind witch I can control fairly easily but I just can’t get passed the fact it my life not yours and I will live it as I will and have nothing to worried about you judgements and belittling of me I try to stay positive and strong-minded that I no who I am and they won’t bring me down with there attempts but it’s hard and I’m almost over the fight and just have to give away something I did like doing but the big reason is I just didn’t want to let them win…this didn’t always happen in the past when I reached that state of mind but it like it grue and got more advanced as it went on like I’d think did I hear that no must of being hearing things to a point were I’m cussing back at them and putting them down as they do to me and at times I hear some voices a female most the time get realie angry and all most growl it frasstration and I will laugh in I’m winning the battle but I no I won’t win the war and I’m going to regret it later it all sounds far fetched and that I’m a crazy person but I’m Sain mentally fit person hard worker and full time employee I pay my bill and rent on time I donate to charity I help some of my friends when there struggling I’ve grow to look in other people point of views to problem solve certain thing and at time debate the situation to my self to get some kind of matching Patten or path way that makes sense I find it never to far from the answer or truth..but this has got me stump ed these to much wanting control and smarts to it to just be autory hallucinations or a std mes…
Hi Damien:
From what you say, you don’t have true Musical Ear Syndrome, nor do you have the common kind of audio pareidolia where you hear voices/sounds/music from background fans/motors, etc.
In your case, your mood seems to play a large factor in whether you hear these sounds or not. And also, your mood seems to be a factor in whether you hear mean/angry/evil voices telling you to do bad things or running you down.
In my experience, this indicates one of two things. Either you have some degree of mental illness such as schizophrenia, or you are being oppressed by various demons at times. I lean towards that latter, especially if you have had any dealings with the occult in the past.
Cordially,
Neil
Hi there … I have been fascinated reading your articles and all of the comments. I am not chronically afflicted with MES and have only experienced it once (about a year ago).
I have extremely chronic and debilitating insomnia. On average, I sleep 0 to 3 hours a night, every night and this has been the case for several years now. One particularly damaging bout with insomnia left me fully awake, whether working or laying in bed “pretending” to sleep, for a full four days. At the end of the fourth day, I literally could just barely fill out invoices at work; it was that bad. My body and mind were breaking down in a horrible way.
And on that final day, when I went home for the evening, lo and behold I could hear some unknown radio song quite literally emanating from my air conditioner vent (which was emitting soft white noise). I was fascinated and for a moment entertained the notion that somebody was playing a trick on me (I have mischievous friends) and had secretly put a hand held radio in my attic! LOL …
That entire afternoon/evening, any source of whooshing or “white” noise would find different songs, mostly unfamiliar at the time, emanating from them. My computers fans had songs playing in them . My rooms circulating fan had music playing from it. It was fascinating and a bit scary and for a few terrifying moments I wondered what it would be like if I had to live with it forever.
Fortunately, my body being so exhausted (and a friend giving me a couple valium) allowed me to get about 10 hours unconscious that night and the following morning, it was gone.
I will never forget it. And it should be emphasized here (as you’ve mentioned above) … that this was no ear worm or some (also horrible) cyclical song one can’t get OUT of one’s head. No … to the contrary, these perceived sounds WERE OUT of my head, as though their were tiny speakers in anything that emitted white noise. Even my air compressor that afternoon, a fairly loud and chugging machine, sounded just like a heavy metal song.
So thanks again for your comments and work. I’m sure many folks, like myself, are very relieved to have found your site.
Best regards,
Joel Harris
Hi Joel:
Thanks for you interesting comment on audio pareidolia and fatigue. I know that when some people get overtired they get loud roaring tinnitus–like a train was going to burst through the wall and run you down. I’ve had that experience too. And all it needs is a good sleep and its gone.
So I’m not surprised that audio pareidolia can also occur when you are overtired.
Cordially,
Neil
Hi! I would like to start a your hit songs list posting. I have only a few. Sometimes the same song for 4 days straight! Lost almost most of my hearing in my left ear about 6 weeks or so ago. Woke up on a Saturday gone! Musician I am. Life timer. Once I researched this weird scenario I to realized I was not nuts!
Ok, lets get to it. Song list wise I am stuck with this: Silent Night mostly,,Amazing Grace,,and once in while a banjo player. Then there is this sort of monk two chord song choir. The really cool thing is whoever I am hearing is of the most top notch quality vocally and there is always that smoking Hammond B3 in the works on some songs. It would be nice to have control over my now built in Mp3 player but it is what it is. I have hearing loss now but the greatist thing of all I can still get my tail out of bed and go to work.
Love to hear about your song list. Go ahead and post. I have accepted this scenario so you might as well to. Wish all the best.
I am so happy to have found this site. My soon to be 96 year old Mum with nerve damage hearing loss asked me yesterday to turn off the music that plays all the time. I asked her what music and she said the music coming from that-and pointed to the Zvox speaker I bought for the TV to boost the voices so she could hear better. I told her there was no music and she insisted there was. It really startled me and I was worried about her mental health. She has a great upbeat attitude about everything, does find a word and crosswords all day and loves Wheel of Fortune where she can solve the puzzles with only a couple letters showing. After reading here I realize it’s not her mind and I’m so relieved. I’ll share this information with her to put her mind at ease.
Hi Neil,
I am a 32-guy tipping from Brazil because I am really concerned about what is happens with me. I am tottally worried about MES.
I have gotten MES since November 2020 and I am becoming crazy.
I have been away from my work since then, preseting medical certificate, because I can’t deal with my work and musics on same time.
I am very anxious and depressive by the time. Currently taking 300mg of fluvoxamine and 6mg of Risperidone, and also 1mg of clonazepam to sleep. My doctor and I decided to get these medicines based on some articles in internet.
I have two questions:
1 – how do people live and work with such MES?? I cant do it, i am thinking about suicide!!!
2 – what are the best way to treat MES??
Thanks a lot.
Best regards,
Victor Martins
Note: sorry for my English.
Hi Victor:
Tell me about how your MES developed? Were you under a lot of stress and anxiety back then or what?
Do you have any hearing loss?
Why can’t you work with your MES? What kind of work do you do?
What does your MES sound like?
Did you know that the three drugs you are on can all cause MES-like sounds, especially the Risperidone so you might want to get off that drug ASAP and see whether that helps your MES. The Clonazepam would be the second, with Fluvoxamine bringing up the rear.
Some people put on real music to listen to so their brains have real sounds to occupy them and thus don’t have to generate phantom sounds. Others just ignore their MES as much as possible. And some even make friends with their MES and enjoy the phantom music.
The big thing is not to focus on it and worry about it. That is just making things worse for you. And DON’T even think of suicide. That is not the answer.
Your English is far better than my Portuguese! As long as I can understand you, its not a problem.
Cordially,
Neil
Hi Neil, thanks for your reply.
My MES developed because I have working with something that I don’t like for almost 10 years and it got me very anxious and also depressed.
I have been working as a development engineer at Renault for two years (too much pressure), and before it I did the same job at Ford.
My MES is bizarre, it is a kind of a radio player that plays one song for 5-7 seconds of a popular music that goes in a looping that keep plays it forever, until my brain recognizes or remember other music, and this process never end, which is making me crazy.
As you said, my brain feels occupied when I am listening to music and the phantom sounds goes away. But it is really hard to find a job that I can listen to music while I am working, you got it? The option to ignore MES does not exist for me, and a I cry every single day (if I do not use clonazepam, I can’t sleep – that’s really sad information).
So, your best recommendation is not to focus in the MES, only? It is very hard for me =(
Do you know if I treat my anxiety and depression, it may disappear?
Would you please tell the best medicine to treat anxiety and depression, or even MES?
Next week my doctor will replace Fluvoxamine for Venlafaxine, what do you think about this change? We are trying to treat my anxiety/depression.
Thanks in advance.
Best regards,
Victor Martins
Hi Victor:
Too bad you can’t find a job that you love so you are not stressed out going to it. And also learn how to properly control/manage anxiety and stress so they don’t control you.
Actually, your MES is more common than you think. Many people with MES find their “music” end up being endless loops of a short portion of a song–sometimes only 1 to 3 bars played endlessly.
Instead of listening to music, try listening to a sound that has no meaning so it doesn’t distract you from your work. You could try pink noise, or water sounds–waves lapping on the beach for example, or fractal music (since it is random you don’t “latch onto” it.
Your statement, “The option to ignore MES does not exist for me” is not true. You have the option to focus on other things instead of focusing on your MES. Also, you need to treat your MES like a totally unimportant background sound that is NOT a threat to your well-being. As long as you treat it as a threat to your welling, your brain CANNOT ignore it.
I can’t guarantee that if you get your anxiety/depression under control that your MES will go away, but I can tell you it will not bother you like it is doing now.
I don’t recommend treating anxiety or depression with drugs. I hear so many stories of people just getting worse anxiety and depression as a result of the side effects of the drugs that were supposed to help them.
My suggestion is to try a good counselor who teaches you have to deal with your stress/anxiety/depression and then let it go. This can include things such as Cognitive Behavioral therapy, relaxation exercises, breathing exercises, exercise in general, proper diet for alleviating these conditions, supplements that help reduce anxiety, etc. To me, drugs should be a last resort when everything else has failed–not the first line of attack.
Cordially,
Neil
I am 79 year old female, with chronic anxiety since about the age of 12. Lately I am experiencing hearing brass band music playing only 2 melodies, god save the queen and rule britannia which is quite amusing in a way as I am neither a monarchist nor an upholder of the commonwealth. I have no hearing loss
Hello there I’m Dean I’m a musician and love fifties musicmsince I got bad stress and was diagnosed with GAD generalized anxiety disorder.this happened to me.i found it very stressful.a song stuck in my head looping.i tried to get on with a normal day
But it would be there again .playing..now I’m confused can I listen to music normal again .or can I still play guitar and sing.. that’s exactly how I recognized this intrusive thing .when I was playing guitar and singing .I would say I’ve been like this 5 weeks now..and have avoided music.or playing or singing . . Confused…..but I’m quite sure it has something to do with Bad anxiety .stress..I also heard it is best to just let them happen and ride out ….thank you for this
Hi Dean:
Stress can certainly cause all sorts of weird things to happen to you ears.
But I’m not quite sure what condition you are describing. Is the song going round and round in your mind, or are you “hearing” it from one or both ears? In the former, that is colloquially called an ear worm. If it is associated with your ears and often has directionality so you know from which direction it is coming, then that is likely Musical Ear Syndrome.
With ear worms you can hear whole pieces playing endlessly in your mind. With MES often it may start out with whole pieces and over time degenerate to shorter and shorter sections until in is only one bar played endlessly.
So which one do you think you have?
If you have the former, then I’d just play your music as you normally would and hopefully when your brain is fully engaged with the real music, it won’t produce the ear worm (until you stop playing).
If you have MES, then giving your ears real sounds to listen to rather than quiet is a better solution. And you can play your real music on top of your phantom music and drown it out so to speak.
Cordially,
Neil
I’m a 78 year old woman with progressive hereditary hearing loss since age about 60; and plain old buzzing tinnitus for almost as long. I’ve had hearing aids for about 8 years. A lifelong history of anxiety and depression, and recent history of traumatic losses (both adult children died within 4 years of each other). I’ve been taking Prozac for over fifteen years, with tiny doses of Valium prn (1.25 – .5 mgm) for anxiety and/or sleep. I live alone in a retirement community.
I can’t tell you how thrilled and relieved I was to find your website last night. I kept reading and thinking “Um-hum!..Exactly!…”Oh that, too!!!”
Starting about three months ago (shortly after a new doctor stopped refilling my Valium, and my usually “on” cable TV failed – this is relevant:-), I started hearing majestic choral music – “American the Beautiful”, “The Battle Hymn of the Republic”, “O Come All Ye Faithful”. It wasn’t as evident when I was with other people, or engrossed in reading, but very common when alone in the evening. At the same time I gradually grew aware of the “muffled male radio announcer” when I went to bed. At first I blamed my neighbor in the next apartment (who actually DOES have a clock radio set for 5 a.m – my cat can hear that, so I know it’s real); but it was primarily the kind that continues when I automatically tested it with what I now know is Official Dr. Baumann “pillow over the head”:-)
Someone mentioned a “greatest hits” list. Well, along with the hymns and anthems, I developed a “beat” – BUM-bum, BUM-bum – which I clocked with a metronome at about 58 beats/minute. It doesn’t vary with my heart rate. (You can see I did a lot of on-line research on “pulsatile tinnitus” before I got to you!) The two notes are a fifth apart; the key seems to be close to B natural. The instruments vary from the chorus of theramins one of your correspondent mentioned, to a massive choir, and sometimes a guitar/banjo.
Because the notes are a fifth apart, the melody can be major or minor. I discovered that I can change it at will with a little effort.
I sing in a chorus, and songs we’re working on will show up; but others come from out of the blue. My recent favorite (a day or two ago) was the “voice” I think of as the Red Army Chorus singing “Me and Bobby McGee”. I laughed out loud. Other popular tunes include “Roll Out the Barrel”, “The Anvil Chorus”, and the theme from Bizet’s “L’Arlesienne”.
I plan to identify a new primary care MD (the three previous ones have all retired), and at least tell him or her about this. I will ask for the Valium to be restored so it’s available as needed for anxiety and sleep; I will have my cable TV hooked up so I have some ambient sound available; and last night – after reading this board – turned on my REAL radio and fell asleep in under fifteen minutes.
Thank you for your pivotal role in bringing MES out of the shadows and freeing me from the vague feelings of “what the heck is going on?” Now I know that I’m not crazy and I’m not alone; and I can explore options for counter-measures while still enjoying the incongruity of things like classical choirs singing country music.
Hi Betsy:
As you know, focusing on other things–chatting, reading, etc., often your MES fades into the background, but comes back when it is quiet–like in the evenings and nighttime.
I didn’t know that the “pillow over the head” was an official Dr. Neil diagnosis for MES! But it works, doesn’t it?
You are fortunate that you can change your MES to some degree. Many people can’t. And as you have discovered, listening to real sounds while falling asleep can work wonders.
You sure have the right attitude, so will get along well with your “classical choirs that sing country music”!
Cordially,
Neil
I have been diagnosed with tinnitus about 3 weeks ago. I dont hear buzzing or anything but I hear music. Sometimes it is very old music that I dont even remember the words to but I am able to sing along a lot of the times. But I also hear current music like lady gaga or old rock like guns and Roses. I was hearing xmas music in June. It is not coming from inside my head but sounds like it mainly comes from source from another room. Ive been diagnosed with panic attacks, major depressive disorder and GAD. I also suffer from anxiety. I had 3 kids caught in a riptide about 3 years ago and then I was assaulted a week later and also graduated with my BS degree all in the same month. Dr thought panic attacks were coming from PTSD. I am currently on several medications but over the last 6 months started hearing the music. I was listening to the Hokie Pokie the other day. Not sure what to make of all of this but I do not feel like I am going crazy, nor does my family or dr. Its just very nerve wrecking at times. Ive learned to play background noise to drown it out. I think my depression triggers it. I get to a point of utter loneliness and I think my brain is filling in the silence with music. I think it is a coping mechanism. But I have found that I can make it go away by playing a news channel or other music. It seems to satisfy my brain into thinking I dont need to fill the void.
I would also like to comment that I usually only hear the music when its quiet. Mostly at nights but I have heard it during the day. This is why I think silence and the brain trying to compensate for someone who is lonely having a correlation. I have also made the correlation that sounds from another room turns into music. example would be the sound of a fan or the a/c.
Karen
Hi Karen:
If you hear music, you do not have tinnitus. Whoever diagnosed you with tinnitus obviously doesn’t know the difference between tinnitus and other phantom sounds such as MES. If you have MES, you will also find it can have directionality so you “know” where it is coming from–even though it is actually all in your head.
All the medications you are taking could be causing this–and depression and anxiety can certainly play a part.
Many people hear their MES when it is relatively quiet, so playing background sounds are a good coping strategy. Glad it works for you.
You may also have audio pareidolia since at times you hear the music coming from fans. This is another condition entirely and one that is easy to fix–just turn off the offending fan and it instantly goes away.
Cordially,
Neil
Hello Dr Neil,
Thank you for your excellent website!
I’ve been on a wild goose chase for the past month trying to understand where my blurred vision, headaches, severe hyperaccusis – and more recently, MES and tinnitus – have all been coming from.
The blurred vision started 10 months ago. Then 6 weeks ago I had a cortisone steroid injection in my heel, 2 weeks later I had my second Astra Zeneca vaccine dose and then a week after that I had laser hair removal on my face for PCOS. After the laser treatment I felt a burning sensation on my chin and jaws up to my ear. I thought I had had a reaction from sun exposure, which the laser specialist recommends avoiding. Then, a few days later I suddenly got hyperacusis after getting water in my ears and then clicking my fingers next to my right ear. At first, it was only intermittent. Then, after they gave me the lumbar puncture at the hospital I got terrible headaches and also back spasms. d jaw pain. Plus my spinal MRI showed a minor thoracolombar scoliosis concave to the left and minor discal dessication at C4/5 and L5/S1. Now, when my back hurts I feel muscle spasms all down one half of my body from my foot to my ear and the tinnitus suddenly increases. It feels like there are vibrations of sound running through my body. I know it’s more of a muscular thing but I think that’s how my brain has interpreted things.
A quick recent trip to my dentist revealed lots of teeth grinding. Singing teachers always told me I stick my head out too far forward. Plus I have an overbite, lower crooked teeth and breathe a lot through my mouth.
Alongside this, I’ve been on various drugs. When the hyperacusis began, I was on zopoclone 7.5mg only. Then, I went on codeine in the hospital plus ceffalaxin, paracetamol and a single dose of morphine. Later, at home I stayed on zopoclone 3.75mg and they also gave me Citalopram 20mg and lorazepam 1mg. A week later, I came off the benzos and now I’m taking promethezine 50mg, propranolol 80mg and still the citalopram.
I don’t normally take any medication at all. I eat cleanly and do a lot of Pilates and swimming. I only took the meds because my mental health was really bad and I was in so much pain. I trusted the doctors to oversee my meds but I don’t think they really understand how it may have impacted me as I’m very sensitive and a lot of my siblings have serious mental health issues (my sister has schizophrenia). For this reason, I have never tried weed or any other drug. As I was struggling to breathe through my nose, the doctors also gave me flixonase drops.
The hyperaccusis is now so bad that I can’t tolerate any level of sound at all without severe pain. There is pain in both ears but one always feels much more painful at any given time. It’s so bad that I can’t even try music, or masking. The music started as a simple organ melody in one ear. Then, it began to have different harmonies to it. After I had a hearing test and then a 1.5 hour brain and back MRI (with double hearing insulation of plugs and muffs) I began to hear car alarms in my head. Now, the constant music and sounds seem to respond to the noises in my environment and to my stress level. I’ve been going in and out of hospitals a lot, trying to find answers. With all this I’ve had terrible sleep. Plus, I live next to a busy Main Street with frequent traffic, sirens and drilling. This does not help matters! I have always been quite sensitive to street sound as I spent my teen years in a bedroom without windows. Then, when I went to university I lived opposite a pub so I got into the habit of wearing foam earplugs to sleep so have done so ever since for the past 10 years. Now, I’m still wearing them at night and sometimes during the day in traffic or busy places.
The neurologist has ruled out brain problems but he thinks I may have some kind of autoimmune disease so is sending me to a rheumatologist!
Do you think the drugs are possibly behind all this? Is it the TMD, the injections/laser or the street noise or the stress? Or perhaps a combo? How would you advise moving forward so I can get better? Do you think I’ll be able to? I’m only 30. With existing vision and muskuloskeletal problems I’m really concerned that having hearing issues on top is going to be rather tricky. I’m committed to diligently doing whatever it takes to get well. Your advice would be really helpful.
P.S I can’t play music on top of the MES because of the severe hyperacusis. Is the fact that it’s so painful because my sound tolerance has completely collapsed or could it just be jaw/tooth pain that my ear is misinterpreting? Will my ear pain threshold shift if I can fix my teeth and jaw?
P.S.S It would be helpful to get your advice about how to move off all the medication.
I’ve been on 20mg citalopram for a month, taken in the morning.
I started on 120mg of propranolol 3 weeks ago (40mg 3 x a day). Then moved to 80mg 10 days ago (morning and night).
I started on 50mg of promethezine 3 weeks ago, alongside the zopoclone. Then. week later I came off the zopoclone and went on 75mg of promethezine for the next 2 weeks. 3 days ago I dropped to 50mg.
How do you recommend moving off these and are there natural substitutes I can switch to? I’ve previously found Magnesium L Theronate helpful.
Hi Evie:
You seem to be having several things going on in your body at the same time. I don’t have enough information to help you regarding many of them.
I wonder whether your burning pain along your jaw and up to your ear is a result of your trigeminal nerve being aggravated or inflamed by the laser treatment.
You seem to have a number of spinal-related problems. If I were you, I’d go to an upper cervical spine chiropractor (not a conventional one) and make sure your neck vertebrae are in proper alignment, as when C1 and C2 are “out” they can affect your ears. Your other problems could be related to other vertebrae being out of proper alignment too. Your vertebrae seem to have been “out” for a long time and are probably the cause of your jaw misalignment and your bruxism.
I think your hyperacusis was developing for some time before you noticed it after the water in your ears episode. I think it all began when you began wearing ear plugs at night. You’ve been doing this for a number of years now and that is one good way to cause loudness hyperacusis. Cutting out the noise so you could sleep better sounded like a good idea, but the downside was that it starved your brain for sound, so it turned up its interval volume and this resulted in loudness hyperacusis.
You’d do well to read my recent book, “Hypersensitive to Sound” to learn about the various kinds of hyperacusis and how to effectively treat them. Get the eBook version as I take it you live in the UK and shipping the book overseas is far more than the cost of the book itself. You can get this book at https://hearinglosshelp.com/shop/hypersensitive-to-sound/ .
I’m not clear–do you have constant pain in your ears, or only when there are sounds around? If the latter, you may also have pain hyperacusis.
You are taking such a hodge-podge of drugs its hard to say which, if any, drugs are responsible for your MES. If you can remember back to just before the MES began if you had just started taking a new drug or changing the dose. If so, that drug has a good chance of being the culprit, but it could be a combination of drugs.
You keep changing drugs–stopping and starting, changing doses and drugs–so I don’t have any recommendations. Don’t keep throwing drugs at your situation and hope to get better. This is just confusing everything. You need to do one thing at a time.
I agree with you that getting off any unnecessary drugs is the way to go. If you haven’t been on a drug for very long–less than a month–you can probably taper of it within a month.
You don’t say why you are taking any of these drugs, so I can’t suggest any natural means to replace them.
If you found magnesium threonate helpful, why are you not continuing to take it. I take it daily just for good health. Both magnesium and zinc are important minerals to keep your ears working properly.
Cordially,
Neil
Dear Neil,
Thank you for this comprehensive reply!
I will get your book and find a chiropractor. I’m already weaning off the promethezine (likely the cause of the MES) and paractemol and feeling a bit better at least in terms of anxiety which is helping all round. I will continue getting off the other stuff and try Valerian for sleep and St John’s Wort for anxiety as I’ve seen you’ve recommended those before for those issues.
It does seem likely that the trigeminal nerve is unhappy as my eyesight is also being affected and I understand that it influences many eye functions too.
I agree earplugs have not been wise. A hearing test today showed I have slight hearing loss at the very highest pitches so perhaps that has also played a role.
At the moment I have constant pain although it seems to switch from ear to ear every 1-3 days. Noise definitely aggravates it though.
Thanks for this site and your helpful advice to those of us dealing with the onset of all these surprising things!
Very best,
Eve
Hi Eve:
Glad things are getting better for you.
Note that St. John’s Wort is for depression, not anxiety. Valerian helps with anxiety though.
Protect your ears from louder sounds while they heal. Just don’t overprotect them or it can make things worse.
Cordially,
Neil
Thanks for the article. It is helpful. I have always known that anxiety is presetn whenever music plays in your head. As a matter of fact. The type of music has a lot to do with it. Most forms of modern music are what you always hear. Wonder why? It was designed to get in your head. I doubt you’re going to hear a hymn play in your head over and over.
Hi Joe:
Not everyone that hears phantom music (MES) is anxious. But for some, anxiety is the trigger for hearing their MES.
You typically hear the music you grew up with. So if you grew up listening to modern music, then you typically hear modern MES. However, if you grew up listening to hymns and folk music, then when you get MES, that is what you typically hear.
Cordially,
Neil