I regard these as lying on the same continuum, so would not offer separate, discrete definitions. Curiously enough, dictionaries, DSM and psychiatry textbooks also make no such distinction, or offer definitions of AH which most tinnitus sufferers would also fulfil. I assume that in fact most people regard AHs and tinnitus as two totally distinct conditions with quite different causes, easily dintinguished in clinical practice. So, can we please have twin definitions that clearly articulate this gut feeling?
Hi. Auditory hallucinations are of 2 types verbal and non-verbal.
tinnitus belongs to non-verbal auditory hallucinations. It can be sounds like beep sound, clock ticking sound. Also a type of musical hallucinations.
So, if everyone is happy to regard tinnitus as an auditory hallucination, why are animal models of tinnitus not being studied in this respect, since this seems to be the one psychotic symptom that can be accurately mimicked and hence experimentally manipulated? And are all patients attending an ENT or otolological clinic for noises in their ears, usually due to obvious ear disease, correctly described as having auditory hallucinations?
I find this question is mostly interesting as an attempt at (re)defining 'hallucinations', especially now as we receive constantly more knowledge on the neurobiological underpinnings of perception it becomes rather more plausible to have something classed under 'hallucinations' even with observable physical symptoms causing it. In time, I imagine the term could conceivably become adapted as description of a symptom, not trying to describe the cause but observing the situation that the person in question is experiencing a sound.
I am not necessarily trying to redefine auditory hallucinations. I have simply pointed out that definitions of tinnitus and AH are similar or even identical. I am quite happy with this since I regard AHs, especially musical ones, as developing out of tinnitus. But are patients with tinnitus from known ear disease happy to be labelled as having AHs?
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