Can you provide examples of auditory hallucinations and their impact?

Reviewed by Yoshinori Abe, MD

Internal Medicine

Auditory hallucinations occur when a person hears sounds that others nearby cannot hear. These sounds may include voices—such as spoken commentary or commands—or non-verbal noises like music, ringing, or tapping. Auditory hallucinations can significantly affect daily life, mental well-being, relationships, and the ability to function at work or school.

Causes vary widely and may include mental health conditions, neurological disorders, sleep deprivation, medication side effects, or substance use. Because the underlying cause shapes the right treatment path, identifying possible reasons early is essential. If you or a loved one is hearing sounds that others don't, speaking with a healthcare provider is an important first step.

Not sure where to begin? Understanding your symptoms is the fastest way to know what to do next. A free, private, AI-powered symptom check can help you explore possible causes in just a few minutes and guide you toward appropriate care—no appointment or sign-up needed. Taking a moment now could bring clarity and confidence to your next steps.

Reviewed for medical accuracy: 07/14/2026

Important Next Steps

Learn what’s causing your auditory hallucinations Discover if your hearing symptoms need care Find out if it could be psychosis See OTC options for hearing-related distress Find a doctor for auditory hallucinations Understand home remedies for auditory symptoms Check possible causes of hearing voices symptoms

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Explanation

Auditory hallucinations are when a person hears something that other nearby people would not hear. Examples of auditory hallucinations include speech (such as hearing voice commands or a spoken commentary) or sounds other than speech. Auditory hallucinations can impact daily life, functioning, and a person's well-being. If a person experiencing auditory hallucinations is hearing commands to do something dangerous, these hallucinations can be harmful.

Examples of How Auditory Hallucinations Can Vary

Speech Or Other Sounds: A person may hear a voice talking even though no one else is nearby. This person may hear the voice speaking commands or a talking/commenting on what the person is doing. The voice that is heard may range from being helpful to being dangerous (for example, if the voice is giving commands to do something harmful). Also, auditory hallucinations may involve incoherent sounds that are not speech.
Volume: Auditory hallucinations can be loud or soft.
Frequency: Auditory hallucinations can occur multiple times a day, daily, or less frequently. In some cases, people with schizophrenia hear voices that are perceived as positive and helpful, potentially aiding in coping with daily life.

If you or someone you know is experiencing auditory hallucinations, a healthcare provider can provide a personalized medical assessment and treatment plan for these symptoms. To help identify what might be causing your symptoms, you can use a free symptom checker tool. Also, you can reach someone anytime to talk about these symptoms by visiting 988lifeline.org.

(References)

Ross CA. (2020). Voices: Are They Dissociative or Psychotic?. The Journal of nervous and mental disease, 32868688.
Lorente-Rovira E, Grasa E, Ochoa S, Corripio I, Peláez T, López-Carrillero R, et al. (2020). Positive and Useful Voices in Patients With Schizophrenia. The Journal of nervous and mental disease, 32453282.
Hersh K, & Borum R. (1998). Command hallucinations, compliance, and risk assessment. The journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law, 9785279.

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