husband heres voices

My husband is 41 and seems well adjusted but for the past 4 months he has complained that he hears voices.  I asked him if it is one voice or more and he said it is one at a time sometimes male or sometimes female, he isn't sure.  He says he can here them say his name and he will look around and no one is there. He says after he hears his name he hears muffled speach but can't understand anything that is said.  He states that it only last a few seconds and sometimes happens every few weeks and other times days in a row or a couple times a day.  He says that I am making a big deal out of nothing. am I?  He said he just ignores it and if he keeps ignoring it then it will go away.  He said it most often happens when he is busy working on something.  Is this just brain overload or is something wrong.  He refuses to go to the doctor unless he is dying.  He never complains much about anything.  He is type 2 diabetic and takes glucotrol, multi vitamins, extra vit.C and E.  He also takes gingeng and saw pawmetto.  can herbs cause this?  should I stop worried about it?  I don't see any strange behavior from him.
thank you for you help,
Barb

[HFHS MD-JM]

Barb,

    It sounds like your husband is experiencing auditory hallucinations that cause him minimal but significant distress.  I recommend that you encourage him to have a psychiatric evaluation to rule out a mental disorder.  It is a good prognostic indicator that he is not currently having any impairment in functioning.  If you are concerned about dangerous behavior at anytime you can have him evaluated against his will.

Sincerely,

HFHS MD-JM

Keywords:  Auditory hallucinations