Imagine going through the day feeling like you were at a concert at the Georgia Theatre, but no one else besides you could hear it. Even the most ardent of music lovers might be disturbed if that happened to them. While it may sound odd, this is actually a relatively common condition for people experiencing hearing loss. It’s called musical ear syndrome (MES).
What is Musical Ear Syndrome?
Musical ear syndrome is a condition where people with hearing loss experience musical hallucinations. They can be in the form of pop music, symphonies, radio broadcasts and even Christmas carols.
In the case of one 87-year-old woman with bilateral hearing loss, she complained for a month that she could hear a concert playing that no one else could hear. Originally believing the music to be coming from next door, when the noise became persistent and she realized no one else in her family could hear it, she sought medical attention.
Not a Mental Health Condition
People often associate hallucinations with mental illness, however, that is not the case with MES. The musical hallucinations experienced are non-psychiatric in nature. As opposed to psychiatric-related hallucinations, MES is more like tinnitus, which is a persistent ringing, buzzing or hissing in the ear. According to recent statistics, roughly 10% (25 million) of Americans have experienced tinnitus lasting at least five minutes in the past year.
Cause of MES
The exact cause of MES is unknown, though risk factors include:
- Aging
- Tinnitus
- Feeling stressed, anxious or depressed
- Isolation
MES is most common in people who have bilateral sensorineural hearing loss. This means they have hearing loss in both ears caused by damage to the inner ear. This damage can be caused by multiple factors, such as
- Aging
- Injury
- Certain medications
- Illnesses
- Exposure to dangerously loud noises
Treatments for MES
While not a severe condition, MES can be upsetting and disruptive to your daily life. Some possible treatment options include:
- Hearing aids to improve hearing quality and put less stress on the brain
- Cognitive behavioral therapy
- Antidepressant and/or anxiety medication if necessary
For more information or to schedule an appointment with a hearing expert, call Georgia Hearing Center at ENT of Athens today.