Fear of flutes (aulophobia)

Aulophobia is a fear of flutes. For some it is the high, piercing sound that causes distress, while others are troubled by the look of the instrument or the act of playing it. School concerts and orchestral music can be difficult to sit through.

About this phobia

The name comes from the aulos, an ancient Greek wind instrument usually translated as flute or pipe. It is very rarely reported and appears mostly on lists of unusual phobias. It may overlap with misophonia, a strong reaction to certain sounds, or with a broader fear of loud or shrill noises.

What it feels like

• Wincing or covering the ears at high pitched notes
• Leaving the room when a flute or recorder is played
• Feeling uneasy around school music lessons

Explore more unusual fears in the rare phobias A to Z, or browse the common phobias.

Common questions

Is a fear of flutes really about the sound?

Often it is. Many people who say they fear flutes describe a strong reaction to the pitch rather than the object itself. That can point to sound sensitivity, which is worth mentioning to a GP if it affects many everyday noises.

How can you help?

I use hypnotherapy and NLP to change how your mind responds to the thing you fear, so the old alarm stops going off. Sessions are one to one over Zoom, and you get a recording of the hypnosis to listen to afterwards.

How many sessions will I need?

Many clients notice a real difference after one 90 minute session. If the fear goes back a long way, three sessions gives us room to make the change stick.

Ready to start?

Book a £49 consultation call and we’ll talk through your fear, or take the free suitability test first.

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