Persistent auditory hallucinations despite hearing aid use in bilateral sensorineural hearing loss without evidence of psychosis.
SAGE open medical case reports January 1, 2026 Bushra Elhusein, Nicole Willis, Sharfi Ahmed et al.
Auditory hallucinations are often associated with psychotic disorders but can also arise from non-psychiatric causes such as hearing loss. This case report describes a woman in her 50s with bilateral sensorineural hearing loss who experienced persistent auditory hallucinations for more than three years. She maintained insight and normal daily functioning, with no other features of psychosis. Neuroimaging was unremarkable, and antipsychotic trials provided minimal benefit. Even after hearing aids improved auditory input, her hallucinations persisted, indicating that symptoms related to sensory deprivation may not resolve immediately with hearing correction. The case illustrates how sensory deprivation-related hallucinations can be misdiagnosed as psychiatric illness, leading to unnecessary interventions.