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Children's health

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Original poster

DS says that sometimes his eyes and ears go funny.

8 replies

leplan · 21/03/2011 23:31

He said this as he was going to bed. He said that sometimes he can't see very well but then can. The same with hearing (though not at dame time)

He's 5 and has had eyes and ears tested lastvterm. He told me this as he was going to bed. Could be him stalling as he often says he has tummy ache etc so he can stay up later.

What should I do? What could it be?

OP posts:

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KATC2010 · 22/03/2011 10:17

As you rightly point out this could be children and their attention seeking/stringing things out. However, to try and put your mind at rest I would ask him to tell you each time it happens. Ask him if he sees one or two of things when eyes go funny. Get him to follow your finger in front of him and move it side to side and up and down and see if both eyes follow it. Also, I would try and get him to do a few balance tests, such as stand on one leg with eyes closed and walk heel to toe in straight line etc. If you're concerned I would go back for another eye test - opthalmologist's are fantastic at picking up any problems.

Good luckXXX

fingerpaints · 22/03/2011 10:19

I would always just pop into the GP to set your mind at rest if you're at all worried- they understand children and their imaginations and won't be cross if all seems to be ok!

Original poster

leplan · 22/03/2011 10:34

Thank you both.

I rang the school nurses office who said that his eyes were tested last term and were fine. His ears are being tested at school next week.

However I've made an appointment with the opticians for next week just to be on the safe side. Various members of my family are very short sighted (I'm only a little bit) so want to double check there are no issues there.

He has complained of headaches now and again too but I put it down to left over chicken pox / general run downness.

OP posts:

larrygrylls · 22/03/2011 16:53

Transient headaches and visual and aural problems. Hmmm, I would take that quite seriously. I would worry it was something neurological and get him checked out thoroughly. Could be migraine or some kind of focal seizure. 99/100 of these threads end in something relatively benign but when it comes to this kind of thing, better safe than sorry.

KATC2010 · 22/03/2011 19:37

Leplan when does he get the headaches? What is he like in the morning? I agree with larrygrylls and would really get this checked out. Keep a diary of when he gets what symptoms and when. I don't want to worry you but I would definitely be keeping a very close eye on things here. Please keep us updated. All the best xxx

Original poster

leplan · 22/03/2011 20:33

You are making me very worried now

He has never complained about headaches in the morning. I'm pretty sure the headaches have subsided since the chicken pox have gone. I don't think he has complained of one in the last couple of weeks. However he does normally complain of tummy ache or something at bedtime and asks for medicine!

I asked him again about his ears and he said it had happened 3 times, the first one was when he was 2 .

I asked about his eyes too and he says that they go fuzzy when he's watching the TV or sometimes when he's in the car. I spoke to his teacher and she says she hasn't noticed any problems with reading and writing work and he hasn't complained. His balance is very good.

I told him we were going to the opticians and he seemed very confidant that he would need sunglasses .

OP posts:

larrygrylls · 23/03/2011 07:14

Well,

Your last post kind of casts a different light on things. I remember going to the docs when I was 3 or 4 (must have been one of my earliest memories) because I complained to my parents of seeing spots in front of my eyes. They were the dust motes sparkling in the sun. First time I was ever embarrassed!

I did say 99/100 or even 999/1,000 of everything I ever read on here turns out to be relatively benign. On the other hand, there has recently been a sad thread where it wasn't, so I think it is always worth getting things checked out early, even just to set your mind at rest.

KATC2010 · 23/03/2011 08:07

I'm sorry leplan, really didn't want to worry you but I do agree that to get things checked out just to put your mind at rest is always the best thing to do. I think as larrygrylls says your last thread has suggested that it's probably not anything to worry about, but I would for sure be monitoring him very closely to make sure that these symptoms don't have a regular pattern that could possibly indicate a more serious problem.

All the best xxx

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