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lisa2701

Hearing voices

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Hi everyone,

 

Just a quick over view - I have a 7 year old son with a dx of classic autism (dx at 4 years old). He is reasonably high functioning and goes to mainstream school and after years of intensive SLT he has reasonably good speech although has poor processing speed and so needs time to process what is being said or time to find his words etc. He also has sensory hypersensitivity and hyperacusis.

 

I am not sure where to start. For the last 4 months or so after getting angry or upset, once he's calmed down, he tells us that he "lost control of my head", this is something that has been a reoccurring statement. However, if I am honest I had put this down to him making an excuse for his unacceptable behaviour and a bid to get out of trouble. A few weeks ago he came home with a letter from his teacher saying that he had broken his glasses on purpose, when I asked him about what had happened he told us that he had got angry and when he gets angry or sad he hears voices that tell him to do bad things, like hurt people, himself or break things and tries to control him head. He has never seemed overly distressed by these voices and so I have put it down to him just being confused and thinking that his own inner thoughts were "voices".

 

So tonight he is in the toilet and all of a sudden he started screaming on his dad. My husband rushed through and our son told him that he was scared because there was someone talking to him in french but he couldn't see anyone.

 

After talking to him about these voices (both the ones when he gets angry and the one in the toilet) he says that he heard someone as though they were standing next to him in the toilet. As for the other voices, the ones when he's angry or sad, he says there are LOTS of voices, and they are all the same except one, the one that tells him to do bad things and controls his brain.

 

I am so scared right now, I have no idea what to think or do about this. I have tried to play it calm in front of my son and not made a big deal out of them as I don't want him becoming frightened. The only external help we get it from autism outreach within his school and so I have no idea where to turn. I do not believe that my gp will be of any help, they are pretty useless. I feel I have two options, either call the doctor that diagnosed him, or call the head of autism outreach who is heavily involved with out son and knows him well.

 

Is this a common thing is ASD or is this completely separate to ASD?

 

Any advice or help would be much appreciated.

 

L xx

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I don't really know about this.

My own son does talk about his brain telling him to do things and he cannot stop it. And he now has an anxiety disorder diagnosis for OCD type behaviours.

 

IMO I think you should find out if he is anxious or under stress, as at these times any type of behaviours will increase.

 

If you can talk to him about it. It sounds like he hears voices inside and outside of his head. There could be perfectly logical reasons for that ie. as you said inner thoughts and compulsions, delayed processing etc.

 

I think it would be useful to get referred back to the paediatrician that diagnosed him and talk to them about it. You could ask them to refer your son to Clinical Psychology or CAHMS.

 

I've posted a link I found, which has some useful advice, although it is talking more about teenage children, rather than as young as your son. But it contains some sensible advice and some re-assurance that hearing voices does not = mental illness.

 

I also think some kind of emotional literacy programme could be useful. I know things are done differently in Scotland - but if he has needs in these areas [anxiety, emotional etc], then do what you can to get some professional input/advice and for that to be implemented in school and in his IEP.

 

http://www.handsonscotland.co.uk/topics/unusual/voices.html

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I don't really know about this.

 

My own son does talk about his brain telling him to do things and he cannot stop it. And he now has an anxiety disorder diagnosis for OCD type behaviours.

 

I know my son does not like this because he says he cannot control his brain and he thinks he has a weak brain because those thoughts/compulsions don't stop until he does what they want ie. wash his hands.

 

IMO I think you should find out if he is anxious or under stress, as at these times any type of behaviours will increase.

 

If you can talk to him about it. It sounds like he hears voices inside and outside of his head. There could be perfectly logical reasons for that ie. as you said inner thoughts and compulsions, delayed processing etc.

 

I think it would be useful to get referred back to the paediatrician that diagnosed him and talk to them about it. You could ask them to refer your son to Clinical Psychology or CAHMS.

 

I've posted a link I found, which has some useful advice, although it is talking more about teenage children, rather than as young as your son. But it contains some sensible advice and some re-assurance that hearing voices does not = mental illness.

 

This link makes the useful comment that sometimes hearing voices can be re-assuring for the individual. So try to find out a bit more about what his experiences are, what are the voices saying, does that make him feel good or bad.

 

I also know that tourettes can also involve intrusive thoughts that the person cannot control, and which can be very rude or violent or both.

 

I also think some kind of emotional literacy programme could be useful to help him understsand his own emotions and those of others. Some relaxation techniques, or self monitoring [of if he is not capable of doing that for there to be a member of staff that is proactive and makes sure they are watching him and withdraw him if they feel he needs some quiet time. I know things are done differently in Scotland - but if he has needs in these areas [anxiety, emotional etc], then do what you can to get some professional input/advice and for that to be implemented in school and in his IEP.

 

http://www.handsonscotland.co.uk/topics/unusual/voices.html

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Thanks Sally,

 

Based on recent behaviours in my son I would say he's going through a slight rough patch just now. By that I mean that normally speaking he copes well with daily life, going to school etc, however over the last few weeks he has been getting easily upset, resistant to go to school etc. however, he doesn't really have the comprehension levels to understand what we are asking when we ask about things that may be upsetting him.

 

As you suggested I think I will get back in touch with the doctor who diagnosed him and see if she will see him, can make any suggestions or referrals.

 

Thanks for that link i will go have a nosey at that now.

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Hi

 

My son went through quite a lengthy spell of exhibiting quite extreme behaviour and telling us that he was told to do X, Y and Z by voices in his head. At the time I felt quite alarmed by this, but was very careful not to show that I was to my son. I also sought advice from CAMHS and they agreed with me that it was likely that he wasn't able to articulate how he was feeling. For instance, I know when I'm at boiling point, I tend to want to react in some way depending on the situation/circumstances, almost as if an automatic type of response i.e. consciousness. I'm probably not explaining that very well, but with my son CAMHS and myself felt that that was what was going on with my son – he wasn't actually hearing a voice, but rather battling with his conscience/sense of right and wrong, and not actually able to put that feeling into words (interpreting that as a voice telling him to do things). Does that make sense? Some individuals with an ASD may well end up with a diagnosis of some kind of mood disorder (average age of diagnosis is 19 and usually becomes more and more obvious in their teens), and so it is possible that kiddo might be hearing voices – I don't want to be dismissive, but am purely guessing that the above is perhaps a more likely explanation.

 

YoungMinds has a good website and in the past I've had cause to make contact with them:

 

http://www.youngminds.org.uk/

 

Best wishes.

 

Caroline.

Edited by cmuir

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Thanks Sally,

 

Based on recent behaviours in my son I would say he's going through a slight rough patch just now. By that I mean that normally speaking he copes well with daily life, going to school etc, however over the last few weeks he has been getting easily upset, resistant to go to school etc. however, he doesn't really have the comprehension levels to understand what we are asking when we ask about things that may be upsetting him.

 

As you suggested I think I will get back in touch with the doctor who diagnosed him and see if she will see him, can make any suggestions or referrals.

 

Thanks for that link i will go have a nosey at that now.

 

 

Not being able to identify or talk about upsets is common. My son is quite capable, and yet has no emotional literacy. We found out he was being bullied in the taxi to/from school for months and he never said anything to anyone. We found out after my son refused school and the taxi driver told another parent what had been happening.

 

He has also now been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder. It is a bit of a chicken and egg thing. Did the AD come about because his anxiety was never recognised, supported or addressed - maybe - probably - who knows. But now he has alot of anxiety about many things, especially germs or getting contaminated. He has these compulsive and obsessive thoughts, which he says he has to do otherwise his brain doesn't stop telling him to do it.

 

But one thing that is for sure, if he is not coping he will become more anxious, and that anxiety will make everything harder than it was previously, and may lead onto other behaviours or thoughts or feelings.

 

What kind of school is he in?

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I suppose the bottom line is - whatever he is experiencing - it is a deterioration and a demonstration that things are not well for him. That should be recognised, investigated and supported.

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i used to hear voices. You need to demand for a psychological assessment, they had to try and get it out of me what i meant by hearing voices but i couldnt communicate it well enough for him to understand. its important before it can go out of hand.

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pffff difficult subject.. hearing voices can mean being overly sensitive to sound, and hearing what is said 3 classrooms beyond (and everything inbetween..) all just as load..

psychologists an psychiatrist usually see it as a sign of mental imbalance (to put it mildly..)

thus difficult decision on your part!

 

What I've learned last year.. the AS-brains is waaaaay to active.. the body is not.. total imbalance.

Actually, the mind is not supposed to call all the shots.. we are! Our mind is just responding to prior/old memories and will randomly intervene with emotions.

It's hard to make your mind up when it's almoste literally clouded by emotions and memories..

 

I benefit greatly from daily excercise and (trying out) meditation..

it puts my mind at rest..

Though I keep stumbling over my lack of structure..within 1-2wks I forget my walks/bike-rides and my5-10minutes of (trying to achieve) total quiet..

 

But really.. most of all the excercise does a lot!

Maybe also for it makes the blood flow better, and the bowls work better.. It helps a lot if the body can get rid of toxines which tend to be less well transported when being stressed

(kidney functions less, bowls also for lack of blood..) Active walking cycling makes my head clearer that day :D

 

oh.. and for me, writing stuff down also works.. or whatever means of expressing oneself.. drawing, etc..

 

Like the others, curious how things are going presently

Good Luck! B'fly

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Dear L, Everything you have said is my son. He is now 11 and tells me there is something wrong with his head. he calls his voice evil Michael and he himself is good michael. when he draws himself he has two faces. evil michael tells him to hurt people and do really nasty things. he doesnt like this voice as its ''deep and growley'' i asked him if it sounded like him whe he was angry and he said no. This voice mainly appears when hes upset and angry. people including myself have witnessed him have a full blown argument with it as he doesnt want to do what its telling him. he punches himself in the head to shut it up. he told me not long agao that eveil michael is taking over and when he does you wont have ''me'' anymore. ofcourse i got very anxious about this but Camhs dont believe any of it they have accused me of planting these things to get attention how SICK is that!!!! so i am fighting for a second opinion as i feel my son is infact aspergers. there are cases of aspies with voices i have spoken to diagnosed people with them. So i have been doing my own research as no one in my town is the least bit helpful. You really need to look for someone who specialises in these areas as michael has now tried to commit suicide 8 times due to lack of control and the voices. This will be an up hill struggle as alot of people wont listen? After asking for help i find my son is now on the at risk register as apparently i OVERLY asked for help so obviously its me who ill not my son.... Yes really clever people where i live NOT. But i wont give up as my son needs help to cope with all hes struggling with. I keep his needs as my main focus then whatever they throw at me i can deal with. I am in the prossess of a second opinion which i also had to fight to get. Good luck huni if you need to chat to me further leave me a message and friend request? my heart goes out to you and your son BIG HUGS xx

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