Have you ever had a migraine attack after going to a loud concert? Or have you noticed that everyday background noises, like traffic, seem a lot louder during migraine attacks?

If you can relate to either of these scenarios, you’re not alone. Sound sensitivity is common before and during migraine episodes. Up to 80 percent of people with migraine are hypersensitive to sound. Some individuals may refer to this as “auditory migraine.”

Figuring out how sound impacts your migraine symptoms can help you better manage the noises in your environment.

What Is Auditory Migraine?

Auditory migraine is a term often used to describe the connection between migraine attacks and noise. However, it’s not a formal diagnosis.

Not everyone with migraine is affected by sound. Those who are may experience sound as a trigger that leads to migraine attacks. Or, they may notice sound sensitivity as a sign that a migraine episode is coming or that one is underway.

When sound issues come into play before a migraine, they may be part of the prodrome phase (hours or days before a migraine attack). Sound sensitivity can also be an aura symptom if it happens within an hour of a migraine attack. Some people experience sound sensitivity (sometimes called phonophobia) before and during migraine episodes.

Auditory migraine symptoms can include:

• Feeling overwhelmed in noisy environments
• Noticing that sounds seem much louder than usual
• Feeling pain in the head after a loud event, like fireworks
• Ringing in your ears, also known as tinnitus

Instead of thinking of an auditory migraine as a separate condition, you might think of it as a way to describe how migraine symptoms feel for you.

Sound as a Migraine Trigger

Not everyone with migraine has specific triggers for their attacks. However, sound is a common trigger for those who do. Researchers have actually triggered migraine attacks during experiments by using white noise.

Certain types of noise can increase the chance of a migraine episode, including everyday noises in daily life. But oftentimes, sound isn’t the only trigger. It’s one factor in a combination of triggers that eventually push your brain over the edge.

“Not only do loud noises and bright lights trigger mine, but so does strong cologne or perfume,” said a MyMigraineTeam member.

Another wrote, “I tried to keep a diary for a while to record what was going on when I would get really bad migraines, and I found a connection to corn. I have other triggers, such as loud bass (thumping noise), high-pitched noises, strobing lights, narrow stripes on clothes or pictures, milk products, cheap cologne, and bleach, to name a few.”

Sound triggers may include:

• Alarms
• Busy restaurants
• Construction work
• Crying babies
• Loud music
• Sirens

Migraine is associated with increased sensitivity to the environment. The brain may have a harder time adjusting to sound when migraine attack activity is high.

Instead of tuning out background noise, the brain treats it as important or threatening. This puts a higher demand on the brain and may contribute to an attack, especially when combined with other stressors such as poor sleep, dehydration, or hormonal changes.

Keeping track of your migraine attacks (and the events leading up to them) can help you find patterns and identify possible triggers.

Sensory Sensitivity as a Migraine Symptom

Sound doesn’t necessarily lead to migraine attacks. Sometimes, phonophobia is actually a migraine symptom.

During a migraine attack, normal sounds can seem:

• Alarming and irritating
• Physically painful
• Sharp or piercing
• Uncomfortably loud

Certain sounds may be especially hard to tolerate during a migraine episode. One study found that bird calls, car horns, and emergency sirens affected people the most. During migraine attacks, the brain is more sensitive to sensations in general. Along with sound sensitivity, many people have light sensitivity (photophobia) and sensitivity to touch and smell.

During migraine attacks, the brain has trouble filtering sensory signals from the outside world. As a result, everything feels more intense and harder to ignore.

Vestibular Migraine and Sound

Some types of migraine are more closely linked to sound sensitivity. In vestibular migraine, the brain’s balance and sensory systems become more sensitive, which can lead to dizziness, motion sensitivity, and increased sensitivity to sound. Some people with vestibular migraine don’t actually get a headache. They have other migraine symptoms instead.

Common symptoms of vestibular migraine include:

• Balance problems
• Dizziness or vertigo (feeling like the room is spinning)
• Motion sensitivity
• Nausea
• Tinnitus (ear ringing)

Vestibular migraine usually does not cause lasting hearing loss. If you notice significant or worsening hearing loss, you should be seen by a doctor. It could mean there’s an underlying inner ear disorder.

“When I have a vestibular migraine, I have nonstop dizziness with bouts of spinning vertigo, tinnitus in my left ear, and mild head pain. I just started getting these in my 50s,” said a MyMigraineTeam member.

“I’m feeling frustrated because my vestibular migraine symptoms have gotten in the way of being able to enjoy myself around my friends,” wrote another member.

Managing Sound Exposure and Auditory Symptoms

Hypersensitivity to sound can make you feel like you need to stay isolated during a migraine attack. But fear of an attack shouldn’t stop you from participating in daily life. Instead, find strategies that can help you cope.

For instance, one member said wearing earplugs with cotton balls helps them during concerts. Ideally, finding a good preventive treatment plan for migraine can make it easier to deal with loud sounds and other sensory issues.

Along with protecting your ears, other strategies that can help include:

• Giving yourself some quiet time after a noisy day
• Sitting further back in movies, shows, or concerts
• Taking quiet breaks during noisy events

Auditory symptoms can be a constant annoyance, especially symptoms like ringing in the ears. Members often use background noise as a distraction.

“I used to get ringing in my ears as a precursor to migraine. Then, when I got my constant intractable migraine, I developed constant ringing in my ears. It’s so hard 😫 I can’t be in silence,” said one member. “It gets louder when my migraine is increasing. I listen to a classical music station on TV at night and during the day.”

When To Seek Medical Care

Even though sound and hearing issues frequently occur alongside migraine episodes, you should still discuss them with your healthcare provider.

Ask your headache specialist for medical advice if you experience:

• New or sudden hearing loss
• Persistent ringing in the ears that doesn’t go away
• One-sided ear symptoms that are unusual for you
• Severe dizziness or vertigo, especially if it’s new
• Neurologic changes like confusion, trouble speaking, or weakness

These symptoms may still be related to migraine, but they can also overlap with other serious medical conditions, such as stroke or inner ear disorders like Ménière’s Disease. If auditory symptoms are impacting your quality of life, you should explore treatment options to make them more manageable.

Join the Conversation

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