8 year old hearing sounds and voices-last two weeks.

[Deepbreathinout]

DD had trouble sleeping over Christmas a few nights, frightened by hearing rustling in or near her bed. She had a bad cold also so quite bunged up. We comforted her and she slept eventually but had a few very late nights due to this. Routine has returned with back to school but the sounds (occasional rustling and bells ringing) have continued and she says she’s heard a voice, someone calling her name and then another instance where the voice was shouting at her after she made a decision about how to spend her Christmas money. Also happened at school when she was trying to do spellings with the TA.

im frightened about what this means. I’ve been reading online to help myself remain calm. When she talks about it I’m sure to not show I’m worried at all, and ask gentle questions about when it happens or what it says. It seems to be when she needs to make a decision, or has just made a decision.
she tells me she thinks these are her ‘doubts’
ive found some good children’s books regarding self esteem that will arrive today. I’ll talk to the school and will speak to the gp.

im shocked really, we have a calm happy life. School has been tricky for her, she had disordered speech when younger. so couldn’t sound out words initially. Early SALT intervention really helped and her speech is great now but she is still catching up on writing and spelling and has a school plan in place.

I just can’t believe it, it feel awful that she has this voice shouting at her that I can’t stop!

any advice? Anyone had this?

Speak to school and GP and school nurse.

Try not to panic. She has shown awareness in that she knows these are 'doubts' ie; the critical internal voices we all have to a lesser or greater degree and it is positive she is sharing this with you. I would also have a conversation with the school and the GP on a way forward and work on her self esteem.

Maybe a hearing check too.

Some of it sounds like tinnitus rustling and bells, did she have an ear infection with the cold?

We all have inner voices that talk to us, she may have just started to notice them and doesn't understand it's just her inner self discussing things with her.

I would take her to the GP to be honest Op. Hopefully it’s nothing but definitely worth looking into to ensure her mental health isn’t suffering. Early intervention is so important and it might just be that she needs to speak to a professional and have a bit of outside support. Keep us posted.

Following, my sister has the same issue

Have you checked whether there's mice/rats in the wall/under the floor?Maybe this has set off some anxiety.

I think you need to speak to her about whether the speaking is coming from inside her own head or externally.

If she previously had speech delay, maybe her thoughts are now becoming words as her speech improves. It may be her internal monologue is starting up and she is more aware of it. A bit like when we have kids and realise we sound like our mothers

Thank you all, yes I am also wondering if this is some kind of inner dialogue realisation. We spoke gently today, apparently it’s not a voice of anyone she knows. Sometimes the voice agrees with her decision, other times it doesn’t. The voice doesn’t tell her to do anything it just gives an opinion. She doesn’t think the voice is always right. It’s louder and more frequent if slept poorly or trying to make a difficult decision. It stops talking if she runs a tap or drinks water, so she goes to the toilet or gets her water bottle at school to make it go away.

Rustling happened at school and ballet (when learning new steps) so not particularly connected to her room for it to be rodents.

Will ask to get ears checked though too. She talks matter of factly about it and is her happy normal self the rest of the time.

I’ve honestly no idea what’s happening, but I’ll do everything I can to help her and settles this down.