The Music No One Else Could Hear is how I describe my experience with Musical Ear Syndrome, a little-known condition often linked to hearing loss. Until it happened to me, I had never even heard of it.
Whoever said getting old isn’t for sissies knew what they were talking about. Retirement has been wonderful, but it also seems to be the season when my body keeps introducing me to new surprises. The latest one was something I’d never even heard of—Musical Ear Syndrome.
Retirement had introduced me to yet another surprise. I didn’t know it was a thing until I googled it. Just for giggles, I decided to find out if other folks were experiencing the same surprise. Sure enough, Google had an answer. It even had a name for what I was experiencing—Musical Ear Syndrome (MES).
One day in 2022, I was sitting at my desk, and I began to hear music. I could hear the song’s words, the music as if it were on TV. I just thought Charles was watching PBS channel like he sometimes does. I went on about my work and listened until it went away. This happened several times, then one night I heard a song from the past and decided to go watch the TV. TV was showing a football game. “Charles, were you just watching some music?” I asked. “No,” he answered, “I am watching a ball game”.
Okay, where was the music coming from? At first it was interesting. Then it became confusing. Finally, it became a little frightening. I raised the window in case a neighbor had the volume up on their TV. Not that. Okay, so it is in the airwaves. I am thinking the airwaves are corrupted or overcrowded and the music no one else could hear is leaking into the house.
Then the music followed me into silence. I always read before I go to sleep at night. While reading I began to hear music. The same kind as at my desk. As I listened and recognized the song, I could follow along with it. Then I noticed if the music sounded like something I recognized, I could turn the music into what I wanted. Weird, huh?
One of the songs I hear most often is “Easter Parade.” It’s almost as if my brain has chosen that as its favorite tune. The music doesn’t usually begin at the first verse. It may start somewhere in the middle, and it keeps playing continuously.
As I listen, I naturally begin following along with the words in my mind. Then something interesting happens. If I decide I’d rather hear a different song, I simply start thinking about it. Gradually, the new melody begins to replace the old one. For example, I can mentally change “Easter Parade” into the hymn “In the Garden,” and before long it may become “The Old Rugged Cross.” The transition isn’t abrupt. One song slowly fades into the next while the music continues without stopping.
Eventually, the music simply fades away on its own. It doesn’t suddenly stop, and there isn’t an “off switch.” It just becomes quieter until it’s gone.
My ears did not hurt, I could hear just fine, so I began to worry about this music from nowhere. I noticed that I was hearing other sounds that Charles did not hear. Basically, I heard what sounded like the air conditioning blowing air. Sometimes, when I am working, my office is right off the kitchen, I think I hear the timer on the stove going off. I knew that couldn’t be, because the timer had not worked in years.
Time to figure out why the music no one else could hear.
My ears were doing the strange hearing, so I decided to go to an ENT, ear nose throat, doctor. He did not find anything wrong with my ears. But he did give me a hearing test which indicated that I had some hearing loss. I did not believe him.
I decided to check out the hearing loss, so I made an appointment with a hearing specialist near my home. He confirmed that I had hearing loss in both ears. But that wasn’t the most concerning, he told me my comprehension of what I heard was distorted. Well, color me flabbergasted!
He was telling me what I had noticed and was ignoring in my hearing. This is mostly in watching TV and the sound was too low, and I could not understand what the actors were saying. I turned up the volume, but I still couldn’t understand the words. I blamed it on the TV audio system.
Eventually, so did the hearing aids. I did not think I needed them unless I was watching TV. It’s just me and Charles at home, so I didn’t need them. I tried to remember them when we went out, but mostly I forgot. Looking back, I wish I had made the connection sooner. When I wore my hearing aids consistently, the phantom music almost disappeared.
Come forward 3 years, and the music is back. It’s not a bad thing, but it is irritating when it wakes you up at night. It woke me up at night, and with sleep apnea, uninterrupted sleep is especially important to me.
That’s why I wanted to learn more about Musical Ear Syndrome. I wanted to understand what was happening and how to minimize its effect on my life.
What I Learned About Musical Ear Syndrome?
Before I continue, I should mention that I’m not a medical professional. I’m simply sharing my own experience along with information I learned from the Cleveland Clinic.
Musical Ear Syndrome (MES) it is a benign neurological response to under-stimulated auditory pathways. A non-psychiatric condition where persons hear phantom music or singing with no external source. It typically affects older adults with severe hearing loss, acting like a musical variant of tinnitus where the brain “fills in the gaps” of auditory deprivation using memory. (The music I heard was familiar.)
According to Cleveland Clinic, While there is no cure, managing the condition often involves addressing the underlying hearing loss, using hearing aids, or treating associated stress and fatigue.
While some folks panic when hearing sounds from nowhere, this isn’t a sign that your mind is slipping. MES is not a psychiatric condition. It is just your brain filling in sounds due to hearing loss. Musical ear syndrome is harmless, but it can cause stress or confusion. However, take it as a sign to have your hearing checked.
What Causes Musical Ear Syndrome?
Experts believe that Musical Ear Syndrome (MES) develops when the brain tries to make up for missing sound caused by hearing loss. Your brain is designed to stay active, and when fewer sounds reach the auditory center, it begins searching for familiar patterns to fill the silence.
Instead of hearing new sounds from the outside world, the brain draws on melodies stored in your memory. As a result, you may hear music that seems completely real, even though it is being created inside your brain.
Think of it as your brain pressing “play” on a favorite song from its own internal music library, making it sound as though the music is coming through your ears.
Management & Treatment
There is no cure for musical ear syndrome, however, your doctor can help you manage it. Treatments include:
- Education: The biggest concern with the hearing hallucinations is; just how serious is this? When they learn the MES is harmless, most of them learn to cope.
- Improving Your Hearing: You need to consult a hearing specialist to have your hearing tested. Correcting your hearing is key to keeping your brain busy. This keeps your auditory cortex less likely to fill in the sensory gaps.
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Your doctor may suggest ways to introduce more sound into your surroundings.
- Medications: Taking medicine is usually a last resort. And there aren’t any specifically for MES. But healthcare providers sometimes prescribe antidepressants and antipsychotics to help manage symptoms.
Conclusion
I am not alarmed about my MES any longer. My experience showed me that not every hearing professional is equally familiar with Musical Ear Syndrome. Look at the way my audiologist dismissed my comment about hearing phantom music. His response, “I’ve had people tell me that.” But he didn’t go on to explain my condition.
It’s not that common because lots of people don’t talk about it. They are afraid that their doctors will think they are crazy or something. Don’t remain silent, speak up. You are important and need to understand what is happening. That’s why I researched MES, so I would know if I was crazy or not. Knowing is knowledge and how to treat your MES or learn to live with it.
This is a note from Cleveland Clinic:
Musical ear syndrome can make you doubt your senses. And that’s scary. But it doesn’t mean something’s wrong with your thinking. Instead, it’s usually a sign that you’ve got hearing loss, and your brain could use some audio stimulation. You’re not the only person who hears their own private concert now and then. The good news is there are treatments that can help if it becomes a hassle. Review your options with your healthcare provider.
Reading the Cleveland Clinic information was a huge relief because it described my experience almost perfectly. It confirmed that I wasn’t imagining things and that I wasn’t alone. For me, the answer is simple—I need to wear my hearing aids more consistently and keep my brain engaged with real sounds.
If you’ve been hearing music that no one else can hear, don’t panic. Talk with a hearing professional, ask questions, and learn all you can. Understanding what’s happening is the first step toward living comfortably with Musical Ear Syndrome. I know, because that’s exactly what it did for me.
Thank you for reading. I hope this article has helped you better understand Musical Ear Syndrome and reassured you that you’re not alone. If you’re interested in learning more about healthy living, sleep, and wellness, I invite you to explore more articles here at Living the Good Life. You may also want to read my article about improving your sleep or browse other resources designed to help you live a healthier, happier life.