Auditory release hallucinations (aka "musical ear syndrome")

• Usually encountered in patients with hearing loss
• Experienced on the side of hearing loss
• Thought to be due to "disinhibition of auditory memory circuits due to sensory deprivation"
• Often experienced as music that the patient learned when they had intact hearing (church hymns are common)

Treatment

• Hearing aids may eliminate the auditory hallucination
• Treatment with antidepressants and/or antipsychotics has some reported efficacy

Our patient

• Noted to have cerumen impaction on affected side
• The large cerumen plug was irrigated from the external auditory canal
• The patients auditory hallucinations resolved within minutes

Source(s)

Sanchez TG, Rocha SC et al. Musical Hallucination Associated With Hearing Loss. Arq Neuropsiquiatr 2011;69(2B): 395-400.