Auditory hallucinations

A doorbell rings, but no one is at the door; music plays even though the radio is off; voices or noises can be heard even though no one else is in the house. Auditory hallucinations can vary greatly. And many people have experienced them in one way or another. They are often harmless, but sometimes they can be a symptom of mental illness. Below, you can learn more about auditory hallucinations, including their causes, examples, and treatment.

What are auditory hallucinations?

Hallucinations are sensory illusions, meaning that those affected perceive stimuli that are not actually real. These stimuli can affect all the senses, such as sight, hearing, or touch. A distinction is therefore made between visual, auditory, and tactile hallucinations, among others.

Acoustic hallucinations relate to hearing. People who suffer from acoustic hallucinations hear things that cannot be traced back to a real sound source, but which seem real to those affected. These can be voices, noises, or even music, for example. Acoustic hallucinations should not be confused with ear noises ortinnitus, which are caused by physical factors such as noise pollution, hearing loss, or circulatory disorders.

Examples of auditory hallucinations

People with auditory hallucinations can perceive them in very different ways. Some sufferers report whispering or voices in their heads, others hear certain sounds such as hissing or crackling, and still others hear music, specific songs, or melodies.

The intensity or frequency of auditory hallucinations also varies depending on the person or cause. They can occur continuously or intermittently.

It is important to have the causes clarified by a doctor so that the right treatment can be found based on the diagnosis.

Causes of auditory hallucinations

We normally perceive external stimuli with our sensory organs, i.e., our skin, mouth, nose, ears, and eyes. These stimuli are then sent to our brain, where they are processed.

Acoustic hallucinations are caused by misperceptions in the brain that trigger these stimuli. The reasons for this can vary greatly, ranging from mental illness to neurological disorders to stress.

Mental illness

Mental illnesses are among the most common triggers of auditory hallucinations and hallucinations in general. Examples include depression or borderline personality disorder, schizophrenia, anxiety disorders, and psychoses, which can be triggered by loneliness, lack of sleep, or high levels of stress, for example.

stress

Stress does not automatically lead to mental illness, but it can contribute to the occurrence of auditory hallucinations. People who are under a lot of stress often sleep poorly. Stressed individuals are also more likely to resort to unhealthy coping mechanisms, such as high consumption of coffee, alcohol, or drugs.

Physical causes

There are various physical causes for auditory hallucinations, ranging from dehydration to diseases such as brain tumors, epilepsy, dementia, or injuries and traumatic brain injuries to strokes. Various ear diseases such as tinnitus and hearing disorders can also trigger auditory hallucinations.

Alcohol and drug use

Drug and alcohol use are also among the most common causes of auditory hallucinations. Certain medications can also cause similar effects. Even excessive coffee consumption has been identified as a cause of auditory hallucinations.

Changes in consciousness

In addition to drug use, there are other mind-altering practices that can trigger hallucinations. These include, for example, various forms of meditation. Therefore, one should also be particularly careful in this regard.

Acoustic hallucinations in hearing loss

Acoustic hallucinations in cases of hearing impairment or hearing loss are a particularly interesting phenomenon.

They actually occur very frequently in mentally healthy but hard-of-hearing or deaf people and often increase with increasing hearing loss. Those affected also hear noises, voices, or music that are not real or that could not be heard at all due to their hearing impairment or hearing loss. They know that these are not real noises or sounds, which is why they are referred to as "pseudo-hallucinations."

Auditory hallucinations at night

Acoustic hallucinations occur particularly frequently at night or when half asleep. People suddenly hear voices or noises, think that the phone has rung, that their cell phone has vibrated, etc. They don't know whether they are dreaming or awake; the situation feels very real.

Unlike in a dream, however, you are still awake, even if only "half awake." And often, those affected only realize that what they heard was not real once they are completely awake.

In medicine, these sleep-related hallucinations are divided into "hypnagogic" and "hypnopompic" hallucinations. The former occur when falling asleep, the latter when waking up.

Auditory hallucinations in children

Acoustic hallucinations are relatively common in children and adolescents. In these cases, it is particularly important to recognize early on whether this is only temporary or an early sign of mental illness.

In any case, auditory hallucinations in children are very disturbing, especially for the children themselves. If you notice hallucinations in your child, it is important to seek professional help, for example from a doctor or psychotherapist.

What can you do about auditory hallucinations?

Auditory hallucinations can have a variety of causes. It is therefore important to clarify these in order to find the right treatment.

You should therefore seek medical assistance in any case if

• You hear, see, feel, or perceive things that do not actually exist or cannot exist.
• You hear, see, feel, or perceive things that others do not hear, see, feel, or perceive.
• You are unsure whether things you hear, see, feel, or perceive are real.
• Hallucinations occur more frequently
• Hallucinations make you feel uneasy or anxious
• You notice hallucinations due to medication
• You notice hallucinations due to alcohol and drugs

Treatment of auditory hallucinations

The treatment of hallucinations is always individualized and based on the doctor's diagnosis and the causes.

In the case of psychological causes, psychotherapy, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, may be useful, possibly in combination with medication.

When stress triggers hallucinations, relaxation and mindfulness are particularly important. Getting enough sleep, meditation, or yoga exercises can be helpful.

There are also various treatment methods and aids available for acoustic hallucinations associated with hearing loss, includinghearing aidsand hearing devices, as well as special audio therapies.

Regardless of the cause, you should always discuss treatment with a doctor.