Sleep Conditions > Exploding Head Syndrome > (Sleep Conditions Home or All Sleep Conditions)

Exploding Head Syndrome

Description

Exploding head syndrome is a disorder characterized by patients hearing an incredibly loud noise, like an explosion or a bang, within the first several hours after falling asleep. While distressing to sufferers, the disorder is harmless, and the loud noise is not accompanied by pain.

Diagnosis

Patients complain of hearing a loud noise within the first several hours of falling asleep.

Treatment

Because the disorder is harmless, it is not typically treated by any conventional means. For some, the loud noise may fade over time.

Source: Adapted from International Classification of Sleep Disorders Diagnostic & Coding Manual, American Academy of Sleep Medicine.