Auditory hallucinations: Causes, types, and more Health ConditionsHealth ConditionsAlzheimer's & DementiaAnxietyArthritisAsthma & AllergiesBreast CancerCancerCardiovascular HealthCOVID-19Dermatology & SkincareDiabetesEnvironment & SustainabilityExercise & FitnessEye HealthHeadache & MigraineHealth EquityHIV & AIDSHuman BiologyInflammatory Bowel DiseaseLeukemiaLGBTQIA+Men's HealthMental HealthMultiple Sclerosis (MS)NutritionParkinson's DiseasePsoriasisSexual HealthWomen's HealthDiscoverNewsLatest NewsOriginal SeriesMedical MythsHonest NutritionThrough My EyesNew Normal HealthPodcastsHow to understand chronic painWhat is behind vaccine hesitancy?The amazing story of hepatitis C, from discovery to cureNew directions in dementia researchCan psychedelics rewire a depressed, anxious brain?Why climate change matters for human healthToolsGeneral HealthDrugs A-ZHealth HubsHealth ToolsBMI Calculators and ChartsBlood Pressure Chart: Ranges and GuideBreast Cancer: Self-Examination GuideSleep CalculatorHealth ProductsAffordable Therapy OptionsBlood Pressure MonitorsDiabetic SuppliesFitness TrackersHome GymsGreen Cleaning ProductsHow to Shop for CBDQuizzesRA Myths vs FactsType 2 Diabetes: Managing Blood SugarAnkylosing Spondylitis Pain: Fact or FictionConnectAbout Medical News TodayWho We AreOur Editorial ProcessContent IntegrityConscious LanguageNewslettersSign UpFollow UsMedical News TodayHealth ConditionsDiscoverToolsConnectSubscribe What to know about auditory hallucinationsMedically reviewed by Nicole Washington, DO, MPH — By Mary West on March 30, 2022Auditory hallucinations involve hearing sounds that have no external source. In other words, individuals who experience auditory hallucinations hear a sound with no observable cause. While this symptom occurs fairly often in people with schizophrenia, it can also occur in a range of other psychiatric conditions, such as depression. It may also stem from nonpsychiatric conditions, such as seizures. Treatment entails addressing the underlying cause. For instance, if the cause of auditory hallucinations is schizophrenia, doctors usually treat it with second-generation antipsychotics. Keep reading to learn more about the types, causes, and treatment of auditory hallucinations. What are they Share on PinterestDream Lover/StocksyAnother term for auditory hallucinations is paracusis. A person with this symptom hears words that no one has spoken or sounds that do not come from a stimulus. In other words, their mind creates sounds. According to a 2022 research article, the prevalence of paracusis ranges from 5–28% in the general population, 9% in children, and 5–16% in adolescents. Types There are two types of auditory hallucinations — psychiatric and nonpsychiatric — reports the National Center for Rehabilitative Auditory Research. Psychiatric Psychiatric auditory hallucinations can involve:voicesnoisescriesmusic Nonpsychiatric Nonpsychiatric auditory hallucinations can include:voicesnoisesmusic These can be unformed sounds, which sound distorted, or formed, which sound clear. Causes Evidence indicates that auditory hallucinations may happen in the following conditions: Schizophrenia Auditory hallucinations have strong links to schizophrenia and related psychotic conditions, and 75% of people with these conditions experience them. The particular kind of auditory hallucinations they have is mostly verbal, meaning they involve voices. Other psychiatric conditions Psychiatric conditions other than schizophrenia that cause auditory hallucinations include:Depression: A persistent feeling of severe despair or sadness.Bipolar disorder: A condition of extreme mood swings or emotional highs and lowsPersonality disorders: These disorders involve a way of behaving or thinking that differs from cultural expectations or that causes problems in functioning. A schizotypal personality disorder is one of these that may involve illusions or unusual perceptions, which can also include auditory illusions.Parasomnias: Sleep disorders that involve undesirable events, such as sleepwalking or talking during sleep. Neurological conditions There are neurological conditions that may be responsible for auditory hallucinations, including:cerebral tumors, growths of atypical cells in the cerebral part of the brainepilepsy, a condition involving seizurestinnitus, ringing in the earsdelirium, an acutely atypical state of mind that manifests in incoherent thoughts or speechtraumatic brain injury, damage to the brain resulting from sudden trauma, such as a blow to the headviral encephalitis, inflammation to the brain due to a viral infectioncardiovascular events that affect certain regions of the brain, such as stroke Miscellaneous conditions These include:acquired deafness, hearing loss that occurs after birthnutritional deficiencies, inadequate intake of vitamins, minerals, or other nutrientsthyroid dysfunction, a condition where the thyroid does not make the typical, healthy amount of hormonesan autoimmune disorder, a condition where the immune system attacks healthy cells in the bodychromosomal abnormalities, conditions that stem from a change in the number or structure of chromosomestemporary extreme physical or psychological stress, which refers to a serious stressor, such as bereavement or tiredness Substance misuse Research from 2017 notes that auditory hallucinations may also occur with alcohol or drug misuse. Treatment and management Treating and managing auditory hallucinations vary according to the underlying condition. Treatment of psychosis 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. It is a dopamine antagonist, which means it binds to and blocks dopamine receptors, a neurotransmitter that may play a role in schizophrenia. Despite this benefit, clozapine may cause severe side effects, such as blood disorders. If a person takes this drug, a doctor should monitor them with regular blood testing. Treatment of other underlying conditions Researchers recommend treating any underlying cause of auditory hallucinations. This could entail measures, such as:taking thyroid medication to correct a thyroid hormone deficiencychanging the diet to reverse nutritional deficienciestaking anti-seizure medication, such as phenytoin (Dilantin), to treat epilepsy Additionally, an older 2011 study reports that using a hearing aid can correct hearing loss and ease the associated music hallucinations the condition can cause. Treatment of hallucinations that are resistant to drug treatment A 2018 case study states that not everyone with auditory verbal hallucinations responds to drug treatment. Limited options are available for these people, but one is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which teaches someone to change how they experience the hallucinations. CBT is the psychological intervention that doctors most commonly use for auditory hallucinations, but it frequently leads to only modest effects. The study relates a case involving the use of avatar therapy for auditory hallucinations. In this intervention, the therapist created a digital representation, or avatar, of the presumed “persecutor,” from whom the auditory hallucinations originated. Then, the therapist encouraged the person to enter into a dialog with the persecutor. The results indicated that avatar therapy may help people with auditory hallucinations that do not respond to other treatments. When to contact a doctor Health experts advise seeking medical help for any hallucinations. Some auditory hallucinations can have dangerous complications. They can command an individual to hurt others or result in death by suicide. With this in mind, it is important to get help before such complications occur. Summary A person with auditory hallucinations hears voices, sounds, cries, or music that do not come from an external source. The kind involving voices is common in schizophrenia. However, auditory hallucinations may also stem from various other psychiatric and nonpsychiatric conditions. Treatment for auditory hallucinations depends on the cause. To illustrate, doctors treat the cause of schizophrenia with antipsychotic medication, the cause of nutritional deficiencies with dietary intervention, and the cause of hearing loss with a hearing aid. Generally, anyone who experiences any kind of hallucination should seek medical help, as these symptoms can be dangerous. Last medically reviewed on March 30, 2022SchizophreniaEar, Nose, and ThroatNeurology / NeurosciencePsychology / Psychiatry 6 sourcescollapsedMedical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and draws only from peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We avoid using tertiary references. We link primary sources — including studies, scientific references, and statistics — within each article and also list them in the resources section at the bottom of our articles. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.Dellazizzo, L., et al. (2018). Avatar therapy for persistent auditory verbal hallucinations in an ultra-resistant schizophrenia patient: A case report.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2018.00131/fullHallucinations and hearing voices. (2022).https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/feelings-symptoms-behaviours/feelings-and-symptoms/hallucinations-hearing-voices/Progressive tinnitus management: Definitions and background. (n.d.).https://www.ncrar.research.va.gov/Education/Documents/TinnitusDocuments/01_HenryPTM-HB_1-10.pdfSanchez, T. G., et al. (2011). Musical hallucination associated with hearing loss [Abstract].https://www.scielo.br/j/anp/a/zvwQwnknvvKQkfnGqbwCtDn/?lang=enThakur, T., et al. (2022). Auditory hallucinations. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK557633/Waters, F., et al. (2017). Auditory hallucinations, not necessarily a hallmark of psychotic disorder.https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/psychological-medicine/article/auditory-hallucinations-not-necessarily-a-hallmark-of-psychotic-disorder/FA5721C751DEE83F9A43C89AE6302429FEEDBACK:Medically reviewed by Nicole Washington, DO, MPH — By Mary West on March 30, 2022 Latest newsWhat sets 'SuperAgers' apart? Their unusually large neuronsOmega-3 may provide a brain boost for people in midlifeSeasonal affective disorder (SAD): How to beat it this fall and winterCDC: Monkeypox in the US 'unlikely to be eliminated in the near future'Why are more women prone to Alzheimer's? New clues arise Related CoverageWhat to know about hallucinationsMedically reviewed by Timothy J. Legg, PhD, PsyD Hallucinations are sensory experiences that exist only in the mind. There are many types of hallucinations and possible causes, including drugs and…READ MOREWhat are hypnagogic hallucinations? 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