Hear and seeing things?

[codie n]

Im realy concerned about my 9year old son,He says he heres people talking when no ones around and see,s people although thres no-one there,eg this morning he asked who was stood by our gate when i looked noone was there,I take him to the doctors every time he has a ache or pain(his choice).Would the doctor laugh at me if i took him about this.Has anyone had simialar expierences?Any advice would be gratfull.

[Emily Ball]

If you're quite sure he's not just being a mischievous little boy and having you on, then I think you're right to be a bit concerned.Much younger children often have an imaginary 'friend' (my own son had a ' Mr.McKenzie' when he was about two and a half to three years old who kept him company when his brother and sister were at school.) Sometimes an ear problem can convince someone they're hearing voices murmuring. If he is actually 'seeing' people or things that are not there, especially if you are there with him and you yourself can't see what he is seeing, I could tell you it is down to an over-active imagination on his part  but I won't because I think you need to see someone who is properly qualified to assess the situation. See your GP in the first instance and ask to be referred but try not to transmit your worries to your son or dismiss his experiences as imagination otherwise he might stop telling you about them . Keep a written record of his experiences meanwhile , which will help when you see your GP.

[codie n]

Thanks emily ball excellent advice,At first i thought it was his overactive imagination but he,s quite sensible for his age and i no its not an attension thing either,I will take him to see our doctor,Having someone eles opinion helps then i no im not overeacting,Thankyou.

[Emily Ball]

Thanks codie. I would really be interested to know the outcome. Please let us know how you get on. 

[Le Chat]

He could of course be clairvoyant and clairaudiant!

[smee.tracey]

Le chat, don't mock. I don't believe in all the hocus pocus connected with the "other side" but my son was a twin and I've always talked about his sibling to him (who died a week after birth). He often plays with his twin and has conversations when I'm out of the room. If I come in and ask who he was talking to he looks at me like I'm an idiot, I should know because she's over there! It may just be he's playing and pretending she's there but there is a school of thought that says children can see and hear things we can't (like some animals) because they haven't learn to doubt them yet.