Hearing Music in the Ear?
Friday May 7, 2004
Interesting question (for which I don't have an answer) from an About Deafness visitor:
My father, who is 91 years of age, is completely deaf in his right ear and partially deaf in the left ear. For about one month, he has been hearing music in his right ear only...he says it is not music going through his mind, it is only in the right (deaf) ear. He tells us what song it is (sometimes the same song for several days) but it sometimes changes to another song. It is men singing in a low tone. One of the songs he hears a lot is "Maria" by Johnny Mathis. He tells us when the music slows down or speeds up. Have you ever heard of this? By the way, he is mentally stable and active and reads a lot. He told the hearing aid Dr. about this and was told to go to a regular Dr.
My father, who is 91 years of age, is completely deaf in his right ear and partially deaf in the left ear. For about one month, he has been hearing music in his right ear only...he says it is not music going through his mind, it is only in the right (deaf) ear. He tells us what song it is (sometimes the same song for several days) but it sometimes changes to another song. It is men singing in a low tone. One of the songs he hears a lot is "Maria" by Johnny Mathis. He tells us when the music slows down or speeds up. Have you ever heard of this? By the way, he is mentally stable and active and reads a lot. He told the hearing aid Dr. about this and was told to go to a regular Dr.
Comments
Interesting, I am not deaf but have experienced the same sensation. I am mentally stable and no one has an answer to why I hear music in my head, like a radio being played. Good luck finding an answer!
I’m 40 (hopefully mentally stable.. lol) and every now and then I hear music playing. Can’t make out the song though.
I hear music at night, whole songs. I am singer and sometimes I hear myself vocalize. I am 30 something. This very strange and maddening at first, I am learning to get used to it.
I have described this type of event to my family and I doubt that they take me seriously. Started out with just repeating tones and sometimes they went on for days. Kind’a disconcerting. Over the years, I’ve played with this. First learning to “play” simple tunes. Am now at the point that I can create fairly complicated, multi instrument compositions. Am able to insert vocals as of late. Am wondering if this is how some of the great composers could write things out of their head.
I have been researching this for just a few days and have found that it is fairly common in the elderly, with a hearing loss, who tend to live in quiet environments.
My grandmother is 87 and having the same problem. She has been complaining to management at her senior apt. for a while that her neighbors wont stop playing music (often Silent Night, the Star Spangled Banner or Amazing Grace). Nobody else hears it but her…
google search “musical ear syndrome” for more info on it. really interesting!
My daughter who is 25 and has undergone radiation treatment 3 years ago for a tumor, has lost an enormous amount of her hearing due to the radiation treatments. Recently she has been complaining that she is hearing music (seems like a radio station, because she can hear the announcer at times, along with the music)It has even been keeping her up at night. This will last for a few days and then go away. And a few months or so later, it happens again. I don’t think at all that she is “crazy”. I do believe that she is hearing this music. I think that maybe some people who have lost their hearing (as we know it to be) maybe they are capable of hearing things that we with normal hearing capacity can not hear. Is it not true that people who are blind are more capable of senses that someone who can see, does not have?
I have been having music in my mind for some years now, I have tried Seroquel with perphenazine and it does not help. Maybe it isn’t psychotic. What is it while nothing seems to help. Sometimes it is slow, or fast. Same song for serveral days. Drives me crazy or maybe mad. I don’t know where to get an answer. Please help!!!
I have a major hearing problem in both ears. Since, mid January of this year 2007,when my hearing aid broke, and I had to go without one, I started to hear music in my right ear. I hear a lot of Christmas music. Mainly, it’s music I like. At first it stopped when I was sleeping, but as of lately, it now continues to play at night and I have a difficult time trying to fall a
sleep. Sometimes I have to stop what ever I’m doing and think, if it’s the music in my ear or back ground music from an intercom, It plays soft and slow, and other times it’s very loud. I’m 77 years old and basically in good health. My doctor said my only problem at my age is my hearing. Any information would be helpful.
After doing a little searching, I found some interesting news about Hearing Music in the Ear. It’s called
Musical Ear Syndrome
Phantom voices, Ethereal music and other spooky sounds, many Hard of Hearing people Secretly Experience.
Neil Bauman,PH.D. explains it all in very simple non medical terms. You are not crazy, just one of the many who experience this problem. I do hope this will help many people searching for an answer to their problem.
I’m nearly 65 and went deaf when I was around 50. About 8 years ago I started hearing instrumental music. Occasionally I can hear men or women humming or vocalizing along with the music but never distinctly enough to understand the words. Sometimes it is a tune I know but most of the time it is just beautiful unknown instrumentals. At first this drove me nuts as it happens each time I’m sitting quietly or trying to sleep. Over time I’ve grown to cherish the music. When I first lost my hearing the two things that I really missed besides the voices of those I love was the sound of music and birds singing early in the morning. Now I feel that God is blessing me tremendously with marvelous orchestra and violin music during the peaceful times in my life. I had a wonderful life as a hearing person, a wonderful life as a hard of hearing person, and I now have a wonderful life as a deaf person!
Pat Carter, Kentucky
My daughter that has developmental delays and major speech issues, thought she was autistic.. but has since shown only learning disability issues..and auditory processing concerns, says she hears music all day long.. she has a beautiful voice and is in choir. I taught her things as a child by singing tunes to her before she understood language as she does now. it’s so interesting.. any info on similar issues.. please let me know. she had serious issues as an infant and had reaction to DPT shots at 4 months of age.. her hearing was shot till she was given tubes at 9 mos. and then had trouble communicating up until age 4.. weird.. but true.. she’s very stable, loving and no other issues but learning problems now. She’s a wonder of a kid. Diane K.
My father recently developed this problem after he suffered a right ear infection. He is deaf in his left ear (from a previous ear infection). It is known as Musical Ear Syndrome. He thought he was going crazy. It is common in the elderly who have difficulty hearing. There may be other underlying issues as well.
Isn’t it strange that the common factor seems to be in the right ear? For me as well..I do not have hearing problems, but I tune in to music in my ear often, can’t make it out but it definately is music!! I prefer to think that maybe it is something of a spiritual nature..
I have this problem in both ears…actually more prevalent (it seems) in my left ear. I often hear opera…I think Pavarotti’s ghost is haunting me at the moment. Sometimes radio announcers and accompanying music, usually classical or spiritual. Odd…I am only 57 so I don’t think this is confined to the elderly. I choose to call it “a gift”…oh well, better than getting crazy mad over it!
My neighbor has been calling the police on me because she insists my children are singing “roll out the barrels” at all hours of the night. I researched and believe she has Musical Ear Syndrome. It is apparantly common in the elderly who live alone and have high levels of stress or anxiety.
Hi, I think something like this Muscial Ear Syndrome has happened to me. I don’t hear one set of music though, it sounds like scrolling through a whole lot of radio stations, and only lasts for a brief moment. The most recent case was last week, and I heard it a lot more intense an faster before. This happened for less than 3 seconds and then I blacked-out. I am in 20’s, healthy, and very sane. I work in a technical field, which requires maths and logic. I am not sure in the recent case if the music was a byproduct what caused the blackout, or if the music overloaded me and caused the blackout. I am awaiting further tests, but started with Google to get some idea on what the cause could have been.
My mother is 91, lives alone and is hard of hearing. She has been hearing music and thought it was coming from our neighbors. She has called me at various times of the day and night to come and hear the music. However each time I went there was no music. Now I have found on the internet other people going through the same thing. But it sounds like there is no cure for it. I will tell her to leave on her TV to have real noise her ear can hear.
I was meditating and heard music in my left ear. I didn’t want to stop meditating because I didn’t want the music to stop. When I opened my eyes it was still playing! Eventually it stopped. It was music, not ringing or hissing. My hearing is great and I’m 59 years old. Glad to hear other people have had this experience. I compose music and liked it. Hope it happens again.
I’m a 62 year old male, living alone. I hear music all the time. At times, i put my ear to a speaker and it’s always just in my head. I feel that it’s great for calm, stressless and peaceful feelings. The music puts me at ease. The only problem is that sometimes i wonder if it means that i’m going to die. It’s so pleasant and beautiful, like coming from heaven or something. At any rate, i’m a logical and grounded person, not given to fantasies. The music in my head is real and i want to know why it is happening to me. The only thing i could add is that i had been going through way too much stress. When this came, the stress went way down. I like the music too.
Well, I’m not the only one in the world hearing music when no one is playing it! I am 60 and have hearing loss in my right ear which rings a lot. But about two months ago I started hearing music in my left ear. It sounds like bagpipes playing, but always the same “tune” which I don’t recognize. I’m not stressed and I AM sane! It is most noticeable when I am in a quiet space and, fortunately, doesn’t keep me awake. Would be interesting to know what started it!
A few weeks ago I was on holiday somewhere in Sweden and just as I was almost asleep one night I heard what I thought was an engine or something making a loud rumbling. It seemed to get closer, or atleast louder, until I was actually awakened by it’s volume, like a fighter jet overhead. As I came more alert the loud noise seemed to become music, and still increasing in volume I realized it was very beautiful music, organic, instrumental, synthesised, ambient, but hectic sounds. I thought who is playing music so loudly, but it didn’t seem to come from another room, rather it sounded right in the dark room that I lay. Then it stopped. A ringing sound disappeared to silence and I lay wondering what it might be. Probably it lasted a minute in total. I fell asleep again and actually forgot about it til now, because I came across this topic quite by accident while googling for a music topic. It wasn’t at all scary, however it had no explanation. I am mid 30’s and of sound body and mind.
I first suffered this when I was about 10 years old and had severe sun stroke. The music was in both ears. I later read the book ‘the man who mistook his wife for a hat’ and there were several case studies of stroke victims with this anomoly. I have no hearing problems.
http://www.hearinglosshelp.com/articles.htm#tinnitus_phantom_sounds
Neil Bauman has a helpful book which I hope to purchses but there are good articles at the above link.
Began being awakened in jan 2007 at 2.00am hearing music and singing. Thought it was a neighbour till he died in June. Kids couldn’t hear such! Then developed Tinnitus-2 sounds-a constant peep and the sound of bells. Could also hear a muffled singing and music every night and in quiet rooms/places. I think my diagnosis is correct Tinnitus and musical Ear Syndrome. Hope the article is helpful above.
HI ALL-I went deaf at age 50 in 1995 and had a cochlear implant done in 1996. As soon as the deafness started there was music and soothing angelic singing voices happening. When I have my own thinking thoughts –or,when I read– it develops in my head as in terms of singing those very words as I think or read it!. The singing and music rutkus never leaves. PROFESSOR OLIVER SAACKS has good books out on this very subject. Find out on the internet. I am used to all the commotion of it all– and I think I will likely end up with this issue the rest of my life.–TO all: hang in there –dispite hearing such stuff! I also have alot of wax build-up in the one ear and one ear keeps itching constantly and I have to see the ear Dr. very frequently for wax removal and ear drops to soothe it. From MARY
My fother is hearing music in his head too. We are at stanford at this moment hopfully they can give him an answer why this is happening.
ok i need help im only 12 but my hearing is fine i do not hear lyrics just a sond played with a bell it gets louder ive told nobody wat do i do i need help it just scares me.
Worry not. What you are hearing is no syndrome. It is a gift from Angels, they play this Angelic music when you are in need of instant Relaxation, Relief… Bliss.
Never forget, Angels are always waiting to help. Just ask for them and they will be there.
I am a 26 yo student in Colorado. I have played music my entire life, and as such an artist, I obviously heard music in my head that I felt a need to express. I was (and still am) under the impression that musicians hear music the way a painter or sculptor “sees” a work of art yearning to be unleashed from its stone coffin or blank canvas.
About six months ago, in the middle of a debate with my fiancee, the inside of my head suddenly screamed with a sound not unlike that of a symphonic orchestra tuning up – except everyone was out of tune – laid over with what appeared to be speed metal, completely raucus guitars shredding over the sound of untuned violins and tympanis being abused to their physical limits. As quickly as it had started, it dissipated and silence returned. Although I’m sure that “heated emotions” had its part to play, the intensity of the episode left me in shock and sparked a short-lived prescription of Zyprexa. While on the drug, an anti-psychotic prescribed mainly to schizophrenics, my musical ability was hampered as a whole: I was unable to continue writing music and my dreams became surrelistic horror movies, from which I would often wake up in a sweat or in pain or crying.
Since I halted the medication, my writing ability – mainly be ear – returned, but with an added “bonus”- I have, over the passed few months, suffered from can only be described as a form of synesthesia – a crossing of senses – and it has only happened when two vastly different styles of music are being played simultaneously, or say, if I am listening to music in my car and another pulls up blasting its own i.e: gangsta rap over classical or metal over jazz. When it happens my brain freezes momentarily, trying to comprehend the rythms and tones being overlaid, and then I get a horrific taste in my mouth, almost like bile. This has happened several times and I’m wondering if anybody out there has had the same kind of experience from or after Zyprexa, or if you experience the same thing period. Please tell me how you’re dealing with it, or any tips to make the occurence easier to swallow – no pun intended.
I started hearing music in my left ear about 5 weeks ago. I am partially deaf in both ears, mostly my right. The music is coming from my left ear. I can hear vocals, along with the music, but can only make out just an occasional word here and there. It is exactly as if there was a radio within hearing distance, but, far enough away so as not to be able to make out exactly what they are singing. The music itself is vivid most of the time and I can make out what instruments are being played. I have never heard a DJ coming on in between songs, but, the song doesn’t always change either. It starts in an instant, as if someone had just turned on a radio. In the beginning, I was sure someone had turned on a radio, but, this is never the case. I also want to add that I have had tinnitus in my ears for probably close to 8 years by now. It is nice to hear that I am not the only one.
I am 26 and no hearing problems. I hear a radio station dj while music is played at the same time. I know it’s rock, but I don’t know what song. It happens all the time and I’m fooled every time. I have to look around and “find” where it’s coming from and I often ask my husband if he hears something. Or I say the neighbor’s music is loud. I don’t like it. It’s not angelic and it’s not peaceful. It’s annoying, makes me lie awake at night, and look for an invisible radio.
My hearing is excellent. I had it tested. I started hearing things about a year ago. Sometimes I hear sounds like a tv is on in another room. You know someone is talking but can’t make out what they are saying. I also hear music. Sometimes I can hear people singing and other times just music. Other times I hear a DJ on a radio. I have also thougt someone left an alarm on in the other bedroom playing the same tune over and over.I hear these things mostly at night or early morning. I am so glad to hear that other people have heard the same things. I have a nursing background. So I have looked to a scientific cause but can’t find one. I am left wondering……
I too, hear a variety of songs in my head and
have when I was hospitalized for a knee injury
2 years ago just before christmas. Beautiful
Christmas carols and could not believe someone
was playing their music so loudly. I knew I
had something wrong when I continued to have
a whole variety of singing, even opera. I had
a head injury as a child which never bothered me. I started having head pain and the doctor
that treated me for it suggested I could have injured a nerve and even though I am 80 years old, it could just now be responsible for the
sounds. Nothing to do for it, so live with it and enjoy.
I am an 80 year old male who lives alone and just moved into a new home.I have been totally deaf in my right ear for years and have difficulty hearing in my left ear. I have tried expensive hearing aids but gave them up because they did not help with hearing conversations which is what I wanted them for.I have onlybeen in my new home for a month and started hearing annoying music that goes on day and night without any let up.
They are the same songs over and over 24 hours a day. I never heard of this problem until my daughter just found you on the internet. Untilthen I was blaming my new neighbors
and even had some come into my home to see if they could tell me where it was coming from.Nobody hears it but me and I cannot get to sleep at night. What can I do? Is there a medicine I can take or some way to eliminate it or I will soon go out of my mind.Any comments you have willbe appreciated.
Thank you
Harvey Clark
I also hear music in my head when going to sleep at nite, but not always. Im almost 40 now and its been going on since I was a child, maybe 12 or so. I do think that being near a magnetic field , such as a ceiling or window fan, or even an air conditioning condencer located nearby intensifies the effect. I have come to wander if it could possibly be the small bones the make up the chain of bones in ear acting as a radio crystal, which requires no power to operate. It simply( a crystal radio) uses the power that the radio station broadcasts to work. Just a thought. It does seem to be a radio station because as others stated hearI hear an announcer. It used to be country, and I dislike country. Alot. Now it seems like classic rock. Every now and than you can make out the song. Its very faint. Definately not getting to me thru my ears. I have plugged and ear muffed and pillow my head and its still there. Its weird. Sure makes people look at you funny when you tell them!
I hear the “1950’s radio announcer” and distant music, ONLY when a large motor is running.
This includes the air conditioner, the overhead bathroom fan, the refrigerator motor when it cycles in the middle of the (silent) night, etc.
As soon as the motor goes off, the music/announcer stops.
My house is very quiet, with no background noise. As time goes on, I may have to add some background noise, if this problem increases.
It started 2 days ago .I decided to researh on it because I thought I was going crazy..
I hear in my right ear this music sound over and over again but only when I’m trying to go to sleep …It’s a familiar sound ..I only told my boyfriend ..good thing he doesn’t think I’m crazy
I have been hearing classical music in my right ear. I sometimes think I hear people talking, that are not there. I am relieved that other people are going through this too. I am 35, no hearing problems, and mentally stable.
I am a 56 year old physician in good health. In very quiet moments I can sometimes hear an apparent radio station very distant sounding for several minutes. I can tell if a DJ is talking or if a song is playing but cannot distinguish the words. Weird.
My 84 yr old Mum had a mild stroke and recovered very well and very quickly. However, all night after the stroke, she heard music (colliery bands and hand bells, of all things) and on and off throughout the next day. The doctor told her that it was the brain playing tricks on her post-stroke. It has been three days after the stroke now and she hasn’t heard any music yet….
Nice to know, from reading this thread, that she’s not alone!
I am very happy to see that I have lots of sane company in the hearing of non-existent music! This has been happening to me for the past 3 years, I am 53 and my hearing is fine. I mentioned this strange music to my sister recently and she also hears music. Fortunately, like another person said, it mostly happens when the bathroom fan is on or some other motor. It is very strange and disconcerting though but I have come to enjoy it. Sometimes I know the song, sometimes I don’t and sometimes I do hear the ‘DJ’ talking. My husband said it was sound carrying from our neighbors through the sewer line! HAHAHA! Got a kick out of that one. We are not close enough to our neighbors that we could hear their music unless they really had it blasting and the music I hear is faint but rather clear. I feel SO much better to know I am not alone with this.
Well I’m bipolar and hear music a lot. Sometimes it’s so loud I can’t hear people talking. Admittedly the times I hear it are when I’m quite manic and the olanzapine I take does shut it up fairly effectively.
This is the first website that has provided information regarding this topic where many who experience it are not elderly. I am 49 years old and suffer from tinnitis which includes the contant ringing in both ears. Recently (January, 2009), I began hearing music that no one else could hear or explain (music I do not recognize). I called the police on my neighbor several times thinking it was guitar hero or something like that only to learn, to my total mortification, that I was the only one who could hear it. I am discouraged to learn that there is no cure and that I will have to live with this constant distraction. I have a very difficult time sleeping as the volume flucuates and I cannot control it. I am relieved, however, to learn that I am not alone. There should be more usable information available to sufferers.
I am fifty, hearing loss in boh ears. But I have heard music since I was in my twenties. It went away then came back recently. Like very distant marching band and sometimes muddles voices. Usually at night as I am trying to sleep and other noises are not as prevalent during the day. i doubt it is neighbors as I couldnt hear them without my aids on. Annoying but doesnt worry me too much
I recently developed some hearing loss and tinnitus in my right ear. For several months I’ve heard a soft, distant full choir of men and women singing a variety of songs that I’m familiar with, and a few I never heard before. These vocals are in lovely 4 or 5 part, perfect harmony but they’re annoying.
They sing at will, but I’ve learned to shut them up by talking, singing or listening to music. They also stop when I converse or hear someone on TV or radio.
I’ve discovered how to “direct” this choir. What a trip.
I just “sing” a mental tune, then inject that tune into their
frequency and In a few seconds they’re singing it. I can also make them to hold a note for as long as I want. If I can’t fall asleep I request Brahms Lullaby, they sing and I sleep like a baby.
Yes, this is true. I don’t feel crazy and I think it’s a non-threatening phenomenon of the brain. I’m researching to see how to get rid of it – without meds.
Its going on 4am I can’t sleep because of the music I am hearing. This sounds crazy but I first heard Native American drumming..then it changed to country like a square dance and then it changed to like big band era…It got louder and louder and my house is quiet. I got up turned my computer on because I thought I was going nuts and afraid to sleep since maybe it was some sort of warning that I won’t get back up again if I go to sleep…I am in my 40’s I can hear great and I am mentally stable on no medication. I wish I had an answer.