Be Careful What You Listen To
February 2, 2008 by Kristina Chew, PhD
Filed under Health
In musicogenic epilepsy, seizures are trigged by music; Neurophilosophy writes about Stacey Gayle, whose seizures seem to have been trigged by hearing Sean Paul’s Temperature. Rock and roll—complete with high-volume drum beats and amped-up guitars and very loud singers—-does not seem to bother Charlie too much. But he definitely tells me “all done” and “turn off” when certain high-pitched voices or instruments come on the radio and shies away from shouting, as a karate instructor was doing at an “introductory clinic for special needs kids” that we just got back from—-Charlie responded by not responding and another autistic boy put his hands over his ears. On to the swimming pool where the sound of the water will be in the air—much better!
Musicogenic epilepsy sucks. Especially when it’s triggered by low bass, and everyone is into pretending they’re a thug. *wry grin*
When I was pregnant with Amigo, I used to sleep next to our fishbowl with bubbling filter whenever I had insomnia.
There are absolutely certain sounds which push Nik completely over the edge. Some of them are practically indescernible to others…except dogs! But he LOVES his music!
@Daisy,
something about that bubbling soun…..
@Kassiane,
low bass—-that’s a sound that Charlie seems ok with—Charlie’s hums are low bass.
@Niksmom,
I’ve suspected the same with Charlie regarding some noises that dogs or other animals might hear.
Mark too loves loud music .
Recently he has mentioned that he wants to listen to happy music, not crying music.
We haven’t really worked out what the crying music is, yet.
He sometimes plays around with the radio/cd player in the living room.
We are guessing that maybe he heard a song on the radio that he didn’t like, and termed it “crying music”
Mark hates shouting also, and will cover his ears with his hands if someone is shouting.
I was flipping stations on the radio this evening — could hear a low-level moaning sound — went back to 104.3 fm and Charlie was content.
Shouting right in Charlie’s face (and mine), not good!
Ugh… hate shouting.
Though, on the other hand, music can very significantly bother me, and it depends a lot on song and volume (but it’s well known amongst friends that loud music will trigger a migraine unless I am already in a state close to meditation). It’s a little complicated as to what and in what room (even when; if I’m tired, I can accept more). And I definitely get the lion’s share of noises that others can’t hear (both of intensity and pitch).
Cliff