Musical hallucinations and diplacusis

It sounds so difficult to have this when you are a musician! I think you might approach this from a post-Covid perspective and/or the American Tinnitus Assoc. might have resources too. I had head and neck radiation years ago for Stage2 salivary cancer. In time I have hearing loss. I also heard music before I got hearing aids that improved my hearing. I sing in synagogue and noticed I was singing off key. It felt purposeful!? (I didn't understand it rationally but I didn't like it)

For me it was always music in another room, down the hallway, or outside my home. I would ask my spouse about hearing the music. A lonely feeling when there's nothing there, only the music in your head. Have you had a hearing test?? Because getting hearing aids has stopped the problem. When I don't wear them for a little while, I hear the music is still there in the background.

I hope you might get some help from a visit with an audiologist. You might find you can enjoy music again.

@marshameeks02
I have a friend who was a choir director, and a singer herself. She developed a weird hearing problem. When she sings, she hears herself sing the note, and a sour version of the same note simultaneously.
She went to an ear specialist, not an ENT. A doc who is specific with the ear, an Otology/Audiology Neurotology.
He tried all kinds of things, but was unable to help her.
She is hired to sing solo each Sunday at a church, and is really concerned about making mistakes.

Thanks, Susan, for your comment. I have the same thing. It's called Diplacusis, which is called double hearing, hearing two pitches at the same time. And when I'm singing i can't match the pitch. I can't tell which note is correct . And when I am playing it sounds like there's 2 or 3 songs playing at the same time. I also having tinnitus, hearing a hissing sound 24/7 and now I'm having musical hallucinations, hearing, on-pitch music playing all the time in my head. All of this happened after I had covid. May have been after the injection. I don't know . If all of that wasn't enough, I also acquired tmj at the same time. I can no longer chew my food. Going to a PT to loosen my muscles. He's doing dry needling on my face., It's painful but I may be a little better. When I finish here I have found an ENT in Jackson, MS that is real innovative and seems by his profile that he would "leave no stone uncovered." I'm going to try him for my double hearing. I live in Laurel, Ms
Thanks again!
Prayers for you friend!! Hope she can finally find a solution. Will let you all know if this ENT helps the problem.🙏🏼💕

@marshameeks02
Thanks for your response. If it’s ok with you, I would like to share your story with her.

By the way her doctor tried giving her shots of prednisone into her eardrum. It didn’t help…

Laurel, MS! Well you live in a lovely town. I’ve watched those renovation stories and it looks wonderful.

Susan,
Thank you so much!!😊
Ben and Erin have done so much for our town. They have literally put us on the map. I love the Home Town show, too. They have renovated over 100 homes. And the entire town is so proud of them . Y'all will have to come visit us one day. 😊
Back to my ailments. I don't mind at all for you to share my comments with your friend. I have been devastated because of this happening. And I know your friend feels the same. When I get some answers I will definitely share the outcome. Tell her not to give up. There are answers out there somewhere.

I have heard of this happening after COVID. Though it may not be common - it does not mean it does not exist - as you are living with this. I had developed some hearing loss and tinnitus in one ear. I was able to get a hearing aide which helped the hearing loss, but was able to muffle the tinnitus. This may be something to look into, as tinnitus can be very disconcerting. Of course, when the hearing aide comes out at night-time, the tinnitus can be so loud and interfere with sleep. Look into a hearing aide - this may help. Good luck.

Thank you for your reply. Yes, I have had a hearing test. And I do have hearing loss. I have had hearing aids for 10 years and I still hear these sounds. I, also have these musical hallucinations or sometimes called musical syndrome. It is a nuisance, something you can't get away from. I do have tinnitus, of which I have had a long time. I hear a loud hissing sound. As time has passed, more sounds have been added to it. I also hear like a loud motor or a loud truck on my left side and then after I had Covid i started hearing the music. That may have been a coincidence. It may have had nothing to do with covid.
But, the most devastating part of my problem is the Diplacusis, double hearing. Everything is distorted. All of my music whether it is played or sung, it's an awful distorted sound. Looking to find an ENT when I finish with treatment with another ailment I have.
Right now I'm going to a PT for dry needling in my face and I have a few more weeks. There again this happened right after COVID, too. All of a sudden I couldn't chew my food. They are calling it tmj, but I have no pain. My muscles are extremely tight. I'm slowly getting better. I was beginning to swallow some of my food whole. I couldn't help it. My jaws were locked open. My molars couldn't touch. They were about 1/2 in from closing. It was beginning to get serious. My dentist sent me to a PT. I'm so glad. I was looking to have to purée my food. Today has been my first day to chew in about about 2 years. Thank the Lord.
Thanks for your reply.
Do you still have the music sounds? Hopefully your Dr has found a solution for you.
Wish hearing aids would solve my problems. It could be that I need new ones. We'll see. I live in Laurel Mississippi. There's an ENT in Jackson, about 90 miles from home, that is really innovative and has new techniques for treatment. I've heard. Maybe he's my answer.
All the best to you and God bless.

Thanks so much. I will consider getting new hearing aids. One thing I have been doing at night is put on my sound machine. I love the raining or rippling brook setting.
Thanks

The condition you have sounds like « musical ear. « It is quite rare but is a legitimate auditory problem. I have this condition where I will hear a song played over and over, or even a few phrases. It’s not like you silent humming to yourself. Oh no, this is entirely different. I actually hear the song being played in my brain. I can switch different pitches and play it in different keys, but the playing it is actually outside my control. I am not a musician. I also can listen to a song being sung quite off key and it sounds distorted also.. Have you ever tried to listen to music on a broken speaker? The distortion of actual music being played sounds like that, a broken speaker. I sympathize with your frustration as musician. It must be incredibly hard to perform music but not accurately hear what you are playing. I would say that a good audiologist should assess your hearing and make recommendations for you. As well, if you are in a loud musical environment you might consider wearing musician’s ear plugs. Many players in symphony orchestras wear them to protect ears from noise damage. They can be obtained through your audiologist who will explain how they work. Good luck with ,finding a solution. You might research « musical ear » on the internet.

Thank you for explaining what diplacusis is. Like many other people with hearing loss, I frequently experience musical ear syndrome. I hear a single song over and over and over. I've learned to control it a bit by changing songs, but I have to concentrate to do that. It happens most often when I'm walking or doing something that is repetitious. It doesn't really bother me that much any more.

Diplacusis/double hearing is a different issue. I cannot imagine how disconcerting it must be to hear two musical sounds that clash at the same time. Please continue to share information about this on MCC.

It helps immensely to learn that you are not alone with an unusual condition. Thank you for sharing your story.