I was wondering if there is any way a ear infection can cause someone to hear voices and hear things from a long distance away?
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From a pure ear perspective, the answer is yes. An ear infection in the middle ear that is severe can set off vascular and auto-immunologic changes within the inner ear (cochlea). These events can cause temporary or rarely permanent electro-physiological malfunction (hearing loss / death of individual cochlear cells).
The ear is not just a microphone. The brain talks back to the ear in real time. The cochlea has nerve cells and muscle cells; there is a one to one mapping of the cochlear nerve and muscle cells to the auditory brain cortex. We have the ability to enhance ranges of frequencies in real time. This is why we can have a conversation with one person in a crowd of people or an orchestra conductor can hear the section that is not performing well down to the individual bad performer or a mother can pick out her baby in a room of crying children.
The Cochlea can be poisoned by a severe infection leading to the 'Abnormal Auditory Perception' and 'Auditory Recruitment' hinted in the above question. Patients have described to me hearing echos, tinnitus and distant sounds perceived as voices, crowds or music. FYI: Tinnitus is a brain phenomenon; the sound (generated in the brain) is usually in the frequency range where our hearing is less. It is thought the Tinnitus is the brain to attempting to electro-physiologically reconnect to the cochlear damaged areas.
You should visit your local ENT for Historical and Physical examination and Hearing testing.
Good Health
The ear is not just a microphone. The brain talks back to the ear in real time. The cochlea has nerve cells and muscle cells; there is a one to one mapping of the cochlear nerve and muscle cells to the auditory brain cortex. We have the ability to enhance ranges of frequencies in real time. This is why we can have a conversation with one person in a crowd of people or an orchestra conductor can hear the section that is not performing well down to the individual bad performer or a mother can pick out her baby in a room of crying children.
The Cochlea can be poisoned by a severe infection leading to the 'Abnormal Auditory Perception' and 'Auditory Recruitment' hinted in the above question. Patients have described to me hearing echos, tinnitus and distant sounds perceived as voices, crowds or music. FYI: Tinnitus is a brain phenomenon; the sound (generated in the brain) is usually in the frequency range where our hearing is less. It is thought the Tinnitus is the brain to attempting to electro-physiologically reconnect to the cochlear damaged areas.
You should visit your local ENT for Historical and Physical examination and Hearing testing.
Good Health
Although I am not an MD, I have never heard of an ear infection causing someone to hear voices or to hear things at a distance - when a person "hears voices" it is usually coming from inside their minds/brain activity - thoughts - I would suggest you consider making an appointment with a psychiatrist to have this checked out. You did not say how long you have been experiencing this issue or how often you hear the voices so further information is needed for more insight.
I am assuming you mean hearing things that are not in sight of you. This is more likely a brain activity. I would have your ears and hearing checked, as well as your psychological health. Follow the recommendations given by both doctors. Good luck.
The transmission/perception of sound is via vibrations in the air causing the ear drum to vibrate in "synch" with the external stimuli which in turn sends the identical pattern through the fluids in the inner ear triggering the tiny hair-like (cilia) ear which, in turn, converts the "wave" pattern into nerve impulses sent to the brain which interprets the identity and location (if bi-aural) of the source.
Given that, it is unlikely that the impairment of an infection actually improves aural acuity as required to hear things better from a distance. It is even less likely that the "hearing" of voices in the face of there being no no one within earshot (no vibrations of the air/inner ear) is caused by the infection. If anything, an infection will decrease aural acuity and that suggests that the "voices" are more likely generated by the brain itself to fill the relative void in stimuli reaching it through the neural network. The Gestalt principle that drives us to reach closure of open forms or issues, suggests that the messages those "voices" bear can even be helpful to understand and externalize- perhaps by writing them down and contemplating their meaning and importance in life.
Given that, it is unlikely that the impairment of an infection actually improves aural acuity as required to hear things better from a distance. It is even less likely that the "hearing" of voices in the face of there being no no one within earshot (no vibrations of the air/inner ear) is caused by the infection. If anything, an infection will decrease aural acuity and that suggests that the "voices" are more likely generated by the brain itself to fill the relative void in stimuli reaching it through the neural network. The Gestalt principle that drives us to reach closure of open forms or issues, suggests that the messages those "voices" bear can even be helpful to understand and externalize- perhaps by writing them down and contemplating their meaning and importance in life.
No. Though auditory hallucinations occur in up to 4% of "normals," especially hypnagogic and hypnopompic, (while falling asleep and awaking), most are related to psychiatric illness, brain pathology, or medication/drug toxicity.
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