High fevers and some infections, such as encephalitis and meningitis, cause auditory hallucinations. Intense stress. It’s especially common to hear the voice of a loved one after their recent death. Other stressful situations can also trigger episodes.

Musical hallucinations usually occur in older people. Several conditions are possible causes or predisposing factors, including hearing impairment, brain damage, epilepsy, intoxications and psychiatric disorders such as depression, schizophrenia and obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Stuck songs or earworms are very common, but, when accompanied by considerable distress and impaired daily functioning, GPs should consider OCD and possible psychiatric referral.

MES occurs when you hear music even though there isn’t any playing. It’s a creation of the brain, but it’s not a psychological problem or symptom of dementia. It’s usually due to some degree of hearing loss, but the cause can’t always be determined. Treating hearing loss may resolve the problems MES is causing.

Here’s how to get that song out of your head

1. Chew some gum. A simple way to stop that bug in your ear is to chew gum.
2. Listen to the song. Jakubowski said some people are able to “get out of the loop” by listening to the song and achieving “closure.”
3. Listen to another song, chat or listen to talk radio.
4. Do a puzzle.
5. Let it go — but don’t try.

Auditory hallucinations are so common because of the very reason that Musical Ear Syndrome develops. It is a result of hearing loss, where the brain notices a lack of auditory stimulation and reacts by “filling in the blanks,” or providing stimuli where there is none.

Patients with a history of anxiety disorders may develop musical hallucinations during periods of stress. Schizophrenia, a chronic mental disorder associated with delusions and hallucinations, has been associated with musical symptoms as well.