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Musicogenic Epilepsy

Fri, 08/07/2009 - 04:03
I read The Zahir written by Paulo Coelho and one of the characters has musicogenic epilepsy.  He describes it as ecstatic experiences provoked by hearing a particular kind of sound or music.  Has anyone here ever heard of it? I googled it and found that there is only 150 reported cases.When I was 14 I was watching Sister Act and when they choir sang at the end of the movie it felt like someone shook me, I screamed and was filled with fear worst than anything I could comprehend.  My mother had to hold me on her lap to get me to calm down and I cried myself to sleep.  Since then it happened regularly always triggered by music or an alarm.  My sister had an electric alarm clock and I screamed every morning when her alarm went off.  My mother took me to a doctor who told her that I’m doing it to get attention.  From then on she ignored it and told me to get over it.   I had my first grand mal seizure while asleep at 21 and was diagnosed with epilepsy.  Fortunately I only have it when I’m asleep.  I use Lamictin and it’s under control but I still find that certain music, high pitched noise set’s off a kind of aura, I feel spaced out, have intense fear and it sounds almost like water rushing and I hear voices. Has anyone here experienced something similar?

 

Comments

Re: Musicogenic Epilepsy

Submitted by pgd on Wed, 2010-06-02 - 09:47
Regarding sensitivity to sounds, yes, sound epilepsy exists - a ringing bell triggers a seizure in a few persons, a voice triggers a seizure (Mary Hart - epilepsy).  General ideas about extreme sensitivity to sounds - Google for more info:  chalk on a chalk board causes a few students to scream, selective sound sensitivity, hyperacusis (often due to brain injuries, head injuries, concussions, car crashes, etc.), central auditory processing disorder (CAPD), ear plugs, and so on.  Also, switching from the idea of sound to light - photosensitive epilepsy, etc.  Best wishes. 

Re: Musicogenic Epilepsy

Submitted by A Carter on Tue, 2010-08-03 - 07:42
It's a facinanting thing, and I never realised how hard it was living with it. I've had it for many years now, and it was controlled but came back 18 mths ago and cost me my job and seems to be worse. I've found that when I've gone on holiday they've had music at the airport, on the planes, on the coaches in the taxis at the hotel receptions and in some cases if your unlucky at road lights if a car comes by open top or windows open loud music and the lights are red. I understand there's an operation that can take part of the brain out, lets have it lol.   

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