Auditory Aura Symptoms
Type: Transitory aura symptom — typically develops gradually over 5–20 minutes and resolves within 60 minutes.
What is it?
Auditory aura symptoms are temporary changes in hearing or perception of sound that occur before or during a migraine attack. These can include temporary hearing loss, ringing or buzzing sounds, fluctuating volume perception, or even hearing sounds that aren’t really there. These symptoms are characteristic of basilar-type migraine, a specific subtype of migraine with aura.
What it feels like
Auditory symptoms during aura typically develop suddenly and feel disorienting. You might notice sounds becoming distant or muffled, as though you’re in a tunnel or underwater. Some people experience a loud roaring or buzzing sound in their ears. Others describe the volume of sounds fluctuating unpredictably — as if someone is turning an invisible volume knob up and down. Your own voice may sound unusually loud to you, even when you’re speaking at a normal level. These changes are alarming at first but resolve completely once the aura passes.
Artwork depicting the experience of auditory migraine aura symptoms.
How patients describe it
“I experience a roaring sound and everything sounds far away for about a day ‘before’ a migraine so it is definitely not due to any medications. It will continue into the migraine sometimes.” — J.
“my husband says that i get very loud (well louder than usual) when i am going to get a migraine. everything seems so far away. i haven’t taken anything yet either.” — R.N.
“Last night I was having a headache so I got out of bed to get something to drink and flipped the TV on while I had a glass of milk… after about 2 minutes my ears started hurting (like an ear ache) and then about a minute later I noticed the volume on the TV seemed to decrease suddenly as if I were sitting on the volume button.” — sceptictank
Subtypes
Decreased hearing
A temporary loss of hearing or sensation that sounds are distant and muffled, sometimes described as tunnel hearing where only nearby sounds seem audible.
Tinnitus/Ringing
Persistent buzzing, ringing, or roaring sounds in the ears that are not actually present in the environment. The most common auditory aura symptom.
Oscillocusis
Fluctuating volume perception — sounds appear to get suddenly louder and then quieter, as though someone is manually adjusting a volume control. This uncommon symptom typically lasts 5–50 minutes.
Related symptoms
- Vertigo or dizziness
- Decreased level of consciousness
- Bilateral visual symptoms
- Speech disturbances
Clinical note
Auditory aura symptoms are well-documented in basilar-type migraine but can also occur in other migraine variants. If you experience sudden hearing changes accompanied by other neurological symptoms like dizziness, weakness, or vision changes, seek medical evaluation to rule out other causes. These symptoms resolve completely on their own and do not indicate permanent hearing damage.
If this is the first time you experience these symptoms, or they feel different from previous episodes, seek medical evaluation to rule out other causes.