What are auditory hallucinations?
Auditory hallucinations happen when you hear voices or noises that aren’t there. The sounds you hear may seem real, but they’re not.
A person may perceive auditory hallucinations as coming through their ears, on the surface of their body, in their mind or from anywhere in the space around them. They can occur as frequently as daily or as an isolated episode.
Auditory hallucinations are often associated with schizophrenia and other mental health conditions, but they can happen for several other reasons, such as hearing loss, and aren’t always a sign of a mental health condition.
Researchers estimate that 5% to 28% of people in the United States experience auditory hallucinations. They’re the most common type of hallucination.
Some people experience auditory hypnogogic hallucinations that specifically take place as they’re falling asleep. These types of hallucinations are common and usually not a cause for concern.
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What are the types of auditory hallucinations?
The two main types of auditory hallucinations are verbal (hearing voices) and hearing sounds or noises.
Auditory verbal hallucinations (hearing voices)
An auditory verbal hallucination is the phenomenon of hearing voices in the absence of any speaker.
The experience of hearing voices can vary greatly from person to person and even for the same person. They can vary in how often you hear them, what they sound like, what they say and whether they’re familiar or unfamiliar.
The voices may come from a single source, such as a television, or multiple sources. It may be a singular voice or multiple voices. They may talk directly to the person, have discussions with them or describe events taking place.
The voices may be positive, negative or neutral. Sometimes, hearing voices can be upsetting or distressing. They may command you to do something that may cause harm to yourself or others.
Auditory verbal hallucinations most commonly affect people with schizophrenia and/or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but they can happen to people who don’t have any health conditions.
Hearing sounds or noises
Auditory hallucinations can take the form of hearing sounds or noises, such as music, animal calls, nature sounds or background noises. They may seem like they’re coming from anywhere in the space around you or in your mind. The noise volume can vary from very quiet to very loud.
Is it normal to hear auditory hallucinations?
If you experience auditory hallucinations just as you’re falling asleep (hypnogogic hallucinations) or waking up (hypnopompic hallucinations), it’s considered normal and usually not a cause for concern. Up to 70% of people experience these types of hallucinations at least once.
If you experience auditory hallucinations while you’re wide awake, it may be — but isn’t always— a symptom of a mental health or neurological condition. Talk to your healthcare provider about the hallucinations and any other symptoms you have.
FAQs
Medications to manage auditory hallucinations
The antipsychotic medication clozapine (Clozaril®) is the most effective option for treating symptoms of schizophrenia, including hallucinations, but it can cause dangerous side effects that affect your blood.
How do auditory hallucinations start? ›
They are commonly experienced by those with psychiatric disorders and can be seen in up to 75% of people with schizophrenia. It is also caused by brain tumors, common types of street drugs (e.g., MDMA, LSD), alcohol use, and epilepsy. Auditory hallucinations may also be experienced when falling asleep or waking.
How to tell if a hallucination is real? ›
A patient's reaction to hallucinations can be an indicator of authenticity. If the patient tries to get rid of the voices on his own, by playing music or humming, or seeking extra medication, this is a sign they are real.
What makes auditory hallucinations go away? ›
If auditory hallucinations have associations with psychosis, treatment involves an antipsychotic medication. This treatment should alleviate the hallucinations within 1 week . The antipsychotic medication clozapine (Clozaril) is the most effective option for treating symptoms of schizophrenia, such as hallucinations.
When should I be worried about auditory hallucinations? ›
It is quite common for people in the general population to experience passing and infrequent episodes of hallucination, and many people recover completely. People who have ongoing experiences which are distressing should seek professional advice.
What is the first stage of hallucination? ›
Stage 1. Also referred to as the comforting stage,a person may begin to experience a sense of anxiety, loneliness or guilt that can cause them to focus obsessively on thoughts that will relieve those feelings. However, the sufferer realizes the thoughts are their own and finds that they can control them.
Can stress and anxiety cause auditory hallucinations? ›
Stress can cause hallucination symptoms. Since the stress caused by anxiety can affect all our senses, including hearing, yes, anxiety can cause auditory hallucinations, including hearing things that aren't real. This is especially true with intense anxiety.
What medications can cause auditory hallucinations? ›
A number of psychiatric medications such as olanzapine (Zyprexa), quetiapine (Seroquel), and haloperidol (Haldol) have all been associated with causing hallucinations, in addition to zolpidem (Ambien), eszopiclone (Lunesta), clonazepam (Klonopin), lorazepam (Ativan), ropinirole (Requip), and some seizure medications.
How to talk to someone with auditory hallucinations? ›
Focus on feelings. Ask them how their voices make them feel, rather than what they're saying. The content of voices can be very personal, so try to reassure them that they only need to share what they're comfortable with.
What is the exercise for auditory hallucinations? ›
One person stands behind the other who should be sitting. The person standing is instructed to lean over and continually whisper something in the person's ear (such as a nonsense rhyme) and to interject it with comments about the person to whom they are speaking.
could say: 'I understand that you are feeling worried now. I don't see or hear anything, but I can understand that it may be difficult, worrying or unpleasant for you'. between the hallucinations and reality. In such cases, the person can understand the conversations you are having.
What is Charles Bonnet syndrome? ›
Charles Bonnet syndrome refers to the visual hallucinations caused by the brain's adjustment to significant vision loss. It occurs most often among the elderly who are more likely than any other age group to have eye conditions that affect sight, such as age-related macular degeneration.
Can dehydration cause hallucinations? ›
In some cases, dehydration can also cause hallucinations, particularly in older adults. When you're dehydrated, there's an imbalance of electrolytes or essential minerals in the body, which can affect communication between your brain cells and lead to hallucinations.
What is the new medication for auditory hallucinations? ›
The effectiveness of Nuplazid was shown in a six-week clinical trial of 199 participants. Nuplazid was shown to be superior to placebo in decreasing the frequency and/or severity of hallucinations and delusions without worsening the primary motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease.
Do auditory hallucinations go away with medication? ›
The only type of medication known to effectively reduce the frequency and severity of hallucinations in schizophrenia spectrum disorders is antipsychotic medication.
What doctor treats auditory hallucinations? ›
You may need to visit a psychiatrist, a neurologist, or a general practitioner depending on the cause of your hallucinations. Treatment may include taking medication to treat a health condition.
What medications stop hallucinations? ›
Olanzapine, amisulpride, ziprasidone, and quetiapine are equally effective against hallucinations, but haloperidol may be slightly inferior. If the drug of first choice provides inadequate improvement, it is probably best to switch medication after 2-4 weeks of treatment.
