
Diagnosis Įxploding head syndrome is classified under other parasomnias by the 2014 International Classification of Sleep Disorders (ICSD, 3rd.Ed.) and is an unusual type of auditory hallucination in that it occurs in people who are not fully awake.


Individuals with exploding head syndrome hear or experience loud imagined noises as they are falling asleep or waking up, have a strong, often frightened emotional reaction to the sound, and do not report significant pain around 10% of people also experience visual disturbances like perceiving visual static, lightning, or flashes of light. The condition was initially described at least as early as 1876. Women are reportedly more commonly affected. While the frequency of the condition is not well studied, some have estimated that it occurs in about 10% of people. Clomipramine and calcium channel blockers have been tried. There is no high-quality evidence to support treatment. It is classified as a sleep disorder or headache disorder. Potential risk factors include psychological stress. Potential organic explanations that have been investigated but ruled out include ear problems, temporal lobe seizure, nerve dysfunction, or specific genetic changes. People may also experience a flash of light. The noise may be frightening, typically occurs only occasionally, and is not a serious health concern.

Reassurance, clomipramine, calcium channel blockers Įxploding 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. Nocturnal epilepsy, hypnic headaches, nightmare disorder, PTSD Hearing loud noises when falling asleep or waking up Medical condition Exploding head syndromeĮpisodic cranial sensory shock, snapping of the brain, auditory sleep start
