For a 60-year-old male presenting with confusion, which finding suggests a functional rather than organic etiology?

A presentation of auditory hallucinations in a 60-year-old male with confusion suggests a functional rather than an organic etiology because such symptoms are more commonly associated with psychiatric disorders. In functional disorders, symptoms may arise from psychological factors rather than underlying physical or neurological conditions.

While disorientation and abnormal vital signs can occur in both functional and organic issues, they do not specifically point to a functional cause. Acute onset of confusion might also suggest an organic cause (like a stroke or infection) as it is often associated with sudden physical changes in the body or brain. Auditory hallucinations, however, often indicate conditions like schizophrenia, severe depression, or other psychiatric disorders, which are categorized as functional in nature, reflecting issues predominantly in mental health rather than in physical brain pathology. Thus, this symptom stands out as a compelling indicator of a functional cause of confusion.