Exploding head syndrome | |
---|---|
Other names | Episodic cranial sensory shock,[1] snapping of the brain,[2] auditory sleep start[3] |
Specialty | Sleep medicine |
Symptoms | Hearing loud noises when falling asleep or waking up[2] |
Duration | Short[2] |
Causes | Unknown[3] |
Differential diagnosis | Nocturnal epilepsy, hypnic headaches, nightmare disorder, PTSD[2] |
Treatment | Reassurance, clomipramine, calcium channel blockers[2] |
Prognosis | Good[2] |
Frequency | ~10% of people[2] |
Exploding head syndrome (EHS) is an abnormal sensory perception during sleep in which a person experiences auditory hallucinations that are loud and of short duration when falling asleep or waking up.[2][4] The noise may be frightening, typically occurs only occasionally, and is not a serious health concern.[2] People may also experience a flash of light.[5] Pain is typically absent.[2]
The cause is unknown.[3] Potential organic explanations that have been investigated but ruled out include ear problems, temporal lobe seizure, nerve dysfunction, or specific genetic changes.[2] Potential risk factors include psychological stress.[2] It is classified as a sleep disorder or headache disorder.[2][5] People often go undiagnosed.[5]
There is no high-quality evidence to support treatment.[2] Reassurance may be sufficient.[2] Clomipramine and calcium channel blockers have been tried.[2] While the frequency of the condition is not well studied, some have estimated that it occurs in about 10% of people.[2] Women are reportedly more commonly affected.[5] The condition was initially described at least as early as 1876.[2] The current name came into use in 1988.[5]
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