Childhood hallucinations can be normal, but are often a cause for concern and may be related to medical conditions and mental disorders. High fever, head injury, drug exposure, sensory deprivation, schizophrenia, and other conditions can cause hallucinations. Medications for ADHD can also cause hallucinations. Children who experience frequent hallucinations should be seen by a qualified physician immediately.
Childhood hallucinations can be normal; more often than not, however, they are a cause for concern and may be related to a larger problem. Some children are more prone to hallucinations than others, and there isn’t always an obvious cause. The most common causes of hallucinations in children are related to medical conditions and mental disorders such as high fever, head injury, drug exposure, sensory deprivation, schizophrenia, and other conditions. Hallucinations are usually auditory or visual, although children can also experience hallucinations through their sense of smell, taste or touch.
Medical conditions, particularly high fever and dehydration, commonly cause hallucinations in children. Hallucinations can also be a sign of kidney or liver failure, epilepsy, brain cancer, tumors, or a serious head injury. Childhood schizophrenia, psychotic depression, and a predisposition to psychosis can cause hallucinations in children and are usually accompanied by severe mood swings. A child who is directly exposed to alcohol or drugs may have hallucinations. This includes parental use of marijuana, heroin, or amphetamines, as well as children’s use of inhalants, phencyclidine (PCP), lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), cocaine, and ketamine.
Some medications typically prescribed to children for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and other childhood disorders can cause hallucinations when large doses are given to the child. In some cases, even small amounts of these drugs are a problem. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the most commonly prescribed drugs that can cause hallucinations in children are Adderall®, Strattera®, Concerta®, Ritalin® and other amphetamine salts. The hallucinations associated with these drugs are usually related to the sense of touch, although they can also be visual.
Hallucinations in children can also be caused by sleep disorders such as sleep apnea and insomnia. Physical, emotional, or sensory exhaustion can also cause hallucinations in children, especially if the child experiences or is subject to sensory deprivation. Long-term sensory deprivation caused by blindness, deafness, or neglect has been known to cause hallucinations. When a child is subjected to total sensory deprivation for only 15 minutes, hallucinations are common, even in children who are not prone to it.
Some hallucinations in children may be normal, such as when a child sees or hears a recently deceased family member or pet. This is often part of a normal grieving process. Imaginary playmates are also a common part of normal childhood development and are not the same as having real hallucinations. Children who experience frequent hallucinations should be seen by a qualified physician immediately. Parents who fear their child is hallucinating should seek immediate medical attention for the child.
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