Can the deaf have auditory hallucinations?

Question

Also blind having visual hallucinations and so on...

Answer 1

Yes. The deaf can have auditory hallucinations, and the blind can have visual hallucinations, because neither are connected to the pathways that actually register the stimulus. In other words, the reason someone is deaf is because the neurological pathways that register sound are damaged or missing. An auditory hallucination is not connected to these neural pathways but instead caused by chemical disturbances in a different lobe of the brain. How a deaf person registers an auditory hallucination depends on whether or not they were born deaf or became deaf at some point later on in life.

Answer 2

I am very interested in the answers to your question. Auditory "hallucinations" don't arise via the ears. They are "voices" in your mind like the little thought voice you think with. (Alien thought voices.) They may be louder, of a different sex, more than one and are distinct enough so that you know they are not you. They are generally unwelcome.

Of course a deaf person couldn't understand a spoken alien "thought voice" because they have never heard spoken language. How does a deaf person normally think? With a 'thought voice" or in some other way? The same reasoning applies to the blind and visual hallucinations. Do the blind register colors or light like you do when you press on your closed eyelids? I think not but I could be wrong.

I must do some research on this myself as it would be enlightening if a deaf person "heard voices" in his mind (of course he/she wouldn't know what they were) as it would indicate that the cause of the voice was external to the brain. Same goes for blind people"seeing" things.

Good luck, Peace and Love!

Answer 3

That is such a good question, but I would think that they can (everyone has an "inner voice"). Auditory hallucination originate in the brain so I think it is possible but would talk to a doctor to be sure.. check out these websites they have good information on it


http://www.lycos.com/info/deafness--deaf-people.html
http://www.discovery.com/area/skinnyon/skinnyon971128/skinnyon.html