What is Musical Ear Syndrome?

What is musical ear syndrome (MES)? This is a question that many people have asked, and it is not a simple answer. Musical ear syndrome is an auditory disorder that causes individuals to hear music or other sounds that are not actually present. This can be very frustrating for the person affected and their loved ones. What MES is, how it affects people and some of the treatments available will be discussed.

What is Musical Ear Syndrome?

MES is an auditory disorder that causes individuals to hear music or other sounds that are not actually present. This can be very frustrating for the person affected and their loved ones. Some people with MES report hearing a song or melody constantly playing in their head, while others may listen to more random noise or sound effects. The severity of MES can vary significantly from person to person, and it is not always clear what causes it. There is no cure for MES, but there are some treatments that can help lessen the symptoms.

Some hearing specialists believe that a combination of factors, including:

• Abnormalities in the inner ear
• Damage to the auditory nerve
• Mental health disorders such as anxiety or depression
• Side effects of certain medications

While the exact cause of MES is unknown, it is important to understand that it is not a result of mental illness. MES can be very distressing and disruptive to daily life, but it is important to remember that it is not something the affected person can control.

How does Musical Ear Syndrome affect people?

MES can be very frustrating and debilitating for those affected. It can make it difficult to concentrate, sleep or even enjoy peace and quiet. The constant noise can also be emotionally draining, leading to anxiety and depression. In severe cases, MES can cause psychosis and hallucinations. While there is no cure for MES, some treatments can help lessen the symptoms.

Treatments for MES

There is no one-size-fits-all approach to treating MES, as the severity and cause of the condition can vary greatly from person to person. Some common treatments include:

• Hearing aids: These can be helpful for people with MES who also have hearing loss. The hearing aid amplifies all sounds, including any noise that might be coming from the inner ear.

• Masking devices: These devices produce a gentle background noise that can help drown out the sound of the music or other noise coming from the inner ear.

• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT): This type of therapy can help people with MES learn how to cope with their condition and reduce stress.

Devices for MES

Devices that can be looked at for MES can vary, such as in the ear (ITE), behind the ear (BTE) and in the canal (ITC), which are as follows:

• In the ear: ITE hearing aids are custom-made to fit in your outer ear bowl. They’re a minor type of hearing aid and stay in place well, making them a good choice for active people. Because they’re so small, however, they may not have all the features that some other types do.
• Behind the ear: BTE hearing aids rest outside your ear and are connected to an earpiece by tubing. BTEs come in different styles and sizes. Some people think they’re more visible than ITCs or ITEs, but others find them easier to use because they don’t need to be inserted into the ear canal.
• In the canal: ITC hearing aids are custom-made to fit snugly in your ear canal. Like ITEs, they’re small, but because they’re further down in the ear canal, they may be less visible than ITEs. There are additional varieties of canal-worn devices, including invisible in canal (IIC) and completely in canal (CIC).

Hearing instrument specialist will also help you determine whether you need a device that can amplify low-frequency or high-frequency sounds. For example, if you have trouble hearing both low and high pitches, you might need a binaural system. This type of system provides different sound frequencies to each ear, making it easier to distinguish between similar sounds coming from different directions.

Musical ear syndrome is a hearing condition that can be helped with the use of technology and devices. If you think you might have MES, reach out to a hearing instrument specialist who can help you get started on finding the proper treatment for your unique needs.

This condition can be frustrating to deal with if you don’t understand what you’re experiencing. If you want to learn more about your options and treatment for musical ear syndrome, contact our staff at Affordable Hearing by calling Irmo: 803-749-6017 or Orangeburg + Santee: 803-531-6403.