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Music-triggered gelastic seizures connected to my sound sensitivity?
Fri, 03/05/2010 - 15:01Hi. I'm 16 years old and since a few months back I've been having what can only be described as gelastic seizures(meaning my limbs goes numb, i start to jerk uncontrollably and laugh my ass off for no good reason) but in my case, there is a difference. According to the sources I've found, gelastic seizures are triggered by no apparent reason, but I know exactly what causes it - music, and 98% of the time, it's Heavy Metal. I also play the recorder, and I get mild cases when I play fast, ususally irish, pieces too. Typically it is fast, extreme, over the top music with lots of "layers", like Cradle of filth, Finntroll or, the trigger of my biggest attack yet, Ensiferum's "Twilight tavern" that causes them. This is not actually much of a problem for me - I don't get them a lot, they are usually not so strong I can't walk, they're easy to avoid and to be completely honest I actually like them. It brings the music to a whole new level and I've found that drawing during one of those attacks is incredibly fun.
However, I'm also suffering from sound sensitivity. This is much more of a problem for me. This might seem completely un-related, but I recently discovered that I have a much higher "resistability" to the songs that trigger the seizures, meaning I can listen to them without my ears going rampage on me, at least compared to the songs and genres that never causes seizures. Heavy Metal, for example, I can listen to. As I said, this genre is what causes the seizures the most. On the other hand, my ears can't stand, lets say Hip hop for example. They go sore quickly compared to when I listen to Metal, and this kind of music has NEVER EVER caused seizures for me. There's got to be some sort of connection here. I have absolutely no idea what the hell I'm "suffering" from, and as far as I know it might not be epilepsy at all. But if it is, is it possible that my sound sensitivity could be caused by it? I looked and I never found any info on how epilepsy could be related to sound sensitivity, but I've done some research and I don't think it's unreasonable.
I'd be grateful for your thoughts. Sorry for the long post, and thanks in advance,
Maya.
Re: Music-triggered seizures connected to my sound sensitivity?
Submitted by Raq on Sat, 2012-03-24 - 12:04
WOW!! I have been experiencing sound sensitivity for quite some time now and I thought I was just easily aggravated, but as I started to pay more attention to it, the way that certain sounds make me feel, I do not think it is normal. I am epileptic and take meds to control the seizures. Idk if the sensitivity is related to the epilepsy or the meds.
I just met with my Neurologist yesterday and he just blew me off when I asked him if there was such a thing as sound sensitivity.
Maya, like you, certain music makes me feel weird. Opposite from you, it is a certain type of Heavy Metal, but it makes me really angry and completely takes control of my body and mood. So far, no seizure. But the way that it turns my mood, can not be normal.
The other trigger is buzzing noises. I first noticed this when my alarm went off one day, the sound was so annoying, I needed to turn it off and never turn it back on. Since then, I have to be very careful as to which alarm sounds I choose because the sounds make my body and head feel so weird.
Scruff, your explanation makes alot of sense. I am a mother of a 4 yr old child and finding that seemingly normal noises drive me crazy. I often find myself asking my kids to lower down the tv and they complain they can’t hear it, I think we are onto something here!!!! Just wish I could find a Dr that would listen and not blow me off.
Raq
WOW!! I have been experiencing sound sensitivity for quite some time now and I thought I was just easily aggravated, but as I started to pay more attention to it, the way that certain sounds make me feel, I do not think it is normal. I am epileptic and take meds to control the seizures. Idk if the sensitivity is related to the epilepsy or the meds.
I just met with my Neurologist yesterday and he just blew me off when I asked him if there was such a thing as sound sensitivity.
Maya, like you, certain music makes me feel weird. Opposite from you, it is a certain type of Heavy Metal, but it makes me really angry and completely takes control of my body and mood. So far, no seizure. But the way that it turns my mood, can not be normal.
The other trigger is buzzing noises. I first noticed this when my alarm went off one day, the sound was so annoying, I needed to turn it off and never turn it back on. Since then, I have to be very careful as to which alarm sounds I choose because the sounds make my body and head feel so weird.
Scruff, your explanation makes alot of sense. I am a mother of a 4 yr old child and finding that seemingly normal noises drive me crazy. I often find myself asking my kids to lower down the tv and they complain they can’t hear it, I think we are onto something here!!!! Just wish I could find a Dr that would listen and not blow me off.
Raq