Musical hallucinations and hearing deficit in a young non-psychotic female

A case of musical hallucinations in a young non-psychotic female is described. The only presented symptoms were perceptual disturbances accompanied by the fear of having a severe mental disorder. Further investigation disclosed a perforated ear-drum, with subsequent mild hearing deficit but no signs of major psychopathology. It is suggested that a psychiatric diagnosis should be deferred in such patients, before audible deficits had been ruled out. The clinical features of musical hallucinations associated with hearing deficits are discussed.