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What is Musical Ear Syndrome and Other Common Health Issues Musicians Face?

What is Musical Ear Syndrome and Other Common Health Issues Musicians Face?

Like any career, it has its ups and downs

It’s true—many of us admire the glamorous and famous lives musicians seem to have. From what we see on social media and in the news, their world looks exciting and full of perks. But have you ever thought about the health challenges they might deal with? Like any career, it has its ups and downs.

Musicians often deal with both physical and emotional challenges because of the demands of their profession. These problems are usually linked to long practice hours, uncomfortable postures, repetitive movements, and the pressure to perform perfectly. Here are some of the most common issues they face:

  • Physical injuries: Issues like tendinitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, neck, back, or shoulder pain, and other muscle or joint problems caused by poor technique or prolonged use of an instrument.
  • Stress and anxiety: The pressure to perform perfectly, stage fright, and industry expectations can lead to chronic stress, anxiety, or even depression.
  • Mental and physical fatigue: Irregular working patterns, long practice sessions, late nights, constant travel, and not enough rest can result in burnout.
  • Skin disorders: Contact dermatitis is a common skin disorder for musicians.
  • Hearing issues: Hearing loss or tinnitus (ringing in the ears) caused by exposure to loud sounds for extended periods.

While these problems can happen in other professions too, musicians are especially vulnerable, particularly to hearing-related issues like tinnitus.

Chris Martin - Improvised Birthday Song
Sergione Infuso/Getty Images.

Tinnitus: A Condition Without a Cure

Tinnitus is a well-known—and unfortunately widespread—condition, especially in the music and entertainment industries. However, it also affects a large number of people in the general population.

Tinnitus, also called ringing in the ears, is a sound like buzzing or ringing that doesn’t come from an external source. According to the Clínica Universidad de Navarra, “it affects between 10-17% of people, but in most cases, it isn’t bothersome because it doesn’t interfere with how the brain processes sound, so no specific treatment is needed.”

However, when tinnitus does become bothersome, it “can disrupt sleep and make it hard to concentrate or perform daily tasks.” There’s also a specific form called musical tinnitus or Musical Ear Syndrome (MES), which is more common among musicians. Around 20% of people with tinnitus develop this condition.

@introvartphpov: u have tinnitus♬ original sound – Introvart

This type of tinnitus, which studies show affects about 3% of the general population, feels like hearing a melody or musical pattern without any actual sound. Essentially, the brain creates these tones to fill in the silence.

A good example of this is the 2018 film A Star is Born. The main character, Jackson (played by Bradley Cooper), is a country music star who suffers from tinnitus along with alcoholism. Tinnitus, in particular, can be so severe that it significantly affects a person’s quality of life.

Which Artists, Actors, and Actresses Have Tinnitus?

Several famous musicians have openly shared that they live with tinnitus. These include Chris Martin (Coldplay), Cher, Bono, Noel Gallagher, Bob Dylan, Will.i.am as well as legends like Beethoven and Eric Clapton.

But tinnitus doesn’t just affect musicians. Many Hollywood stars have also dealt with this condition, including Gerard Butler, Keanu Reeves, Barbra Streisand, Steve Martin, Morgan Fairchild, Sylvester Stallone, Halle Berry, and Whoopi Goldberg, among others.