Musical Hallucinations

Musical Hallucinations

Musical hallucinations can occur for a variety of reasons, while the first thought that comes to mind is very likely drugs of some sort (medical or otherwise) it is by no means the only cause for hallucinations.  Suffers from disorders (such as schizophrenia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, or an anxiety disorder), with the largest demographic primarily being older individuals, can also have auditory hallucinations that are musical in nature. Additionally, musical hallucinations can also occur in individuals with certain types of hearing loss. This is by no means a comprehensive list of things that can lead to Musical hallucinations.

People experiencing musical hallucinations will have different experiences however some people report that they hear a single dominating musical instrument over other instruments, while others hear singing. It’s not difficult to see why having auditory hallucinations could be distracting and disrupting to everyday life. There are treatment options, but like all treatment options, it is important to understand the cause before determining which treatment would work best.

Firstly, a few examinations will likely be performed on the patient as a way to determine the cause of the auditory hallucinations. Along with a physical and neurological examination, a historical examination may also be performed. Additional evaluations may be necessary depending on the results. Once the cause is determined treatments may be used to help the underlining condition. For example, if a person is suffering from insomnia, and it is causing them to have auditory hallucinations then treatment for the sleep disorder may, in turn, cause the hallucinations to go away.

One treatment option entails masking the auditory hallucinations with a low-volume sound (such as music or nature sounds (like rainfall)). For some this type of therapy has proven to be effective. There are also treatments that involve the use of pharmaceuticals, however, this form of treatment is usually not recommended before other options have been exhausted.