Misophonia, Hyperacusis, Multiple Food Allergies - Insights?

[Anonymous]

Hi -

My teen son is currently struggling with extreme irritation at repetitive sounds and seeing a digital device. It's appears to have a sudden onset. [He won't watch TV, hold a phone, or even look at me when I have my laptop open. A couple of months ago, he was watching videos, playing on his laptop.]

He has been fatigued, suffering from brain fog, and depression. He's intolerant to milk, but he started eating more of it this year. [I can't control what a teen eats, so I ask he monitor how he feels.] He removed dairy, and he was back to his old self within 3 weeks. Soon after, he felt he still wasn't "feeling right" and wanted to remove gluten. He then started to experience extreme irritation - have to plug his ears, walked out of class to go outside, felt he was "going to break" until he could get to some silence. Music from cars driving by or chirping birds can also cause an intense reaction. He's ok with white noise. [This symptom began at the end of school year.]

He has appointments with an allergist, gastroenterologist, and psychiatrist.

Has anyone experience anything like this? I'm absolutely heartbroken that he's going through this. I know he's not faking. He went from a kid who could binge watch TV to someone who has to leave the house if I turn it on. He seems in genuine pain.

He tested positive for many of the common food allergens last week, and he's now avoiding those foods. Yesterday he had some nori, not realizing it could contain shellfish, and he is worse today. [He became irritated at birds I could barely hear.] But yesterday he seemed to be getting better, able to go to the pool. I do believe it's related.

[Anonymous]

Have him keep a log of every single thing he eats along with his symptoms. My guess is that upon eliminating gluten, he increased his intake of some other food that he's reacting to (rice, oats, etc or it could be one of the additives in GF goods like xanthan gum.

Be very detailed in the log with full ingredients of foods, save labels with ingredients, etc.

He may really have to go back to basics after finding a few core foods that work ok for him, then add back in foods one by one.

[Anonymous]

Thank you - will do!

[Anonymous]

I’d see a neurologist to rule out seizures. I would also see an optometrist or ophthalmologist as well as an audiologist to rule out vision & hearing problems since the aversion is to both moving pictures and noises.

If you’re really serious about diet try GAPS, with appropriate dietician/nutritionist support of course.

Also test for nutrient deficiencies in addition to allergies.

[Anonymous]

I’d test BP, blood sugar, and oxygen several times a day for a couple weeks as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’d see a neurologist to rule out seizures. I would also see an optometrist or ophthalmologist as well as an audiologist to rule out vision & hearing problems since the aversion is to both moving pictures and noises.

If you’re really serious about diet try GAPS, with appropriate dietician/nutritionist support of course.

Also test for nutrient deficiencies in addition to allergies.

This except the GAPS diet, but I'd second a neurologist, eye exam and audiologist as well as a full physical.

[Anonymous]

Is there any chance the avoidance of devices is photophobia? Is he intolerant of being in bright sunlight or newly insistent on sunglasses?

[Anonymous]

He enjoys being out in the sun. He hates blue light and florescent lights.

Good idea on the bp, which seems low to me, though is on the edge of normal. He does appear more affected when hungry, so blood sugar makes sense.

Will ask our go about neurologist. He commented today that it's repetitive sounds that hurt.

Gp did several blood tests and the only one that came back abnormal was allergens. But we go back in a few weeks for a full physical.

Thank you all for the ideas. I am keeping them all in mind as we try to figure out this challenge!

[Anonymous]

Good luck, op!

[Anonymous]

Check for tick borne diseases and mold exposure in home as those can cause these sorts of changes as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Check for tick borne diseases and mold exposure in home as those can cause these sorts of changes as well.

Was gojng yo suggest a strep test as well as could be something like pandas given the extreme sudden onset.

[Anonymous]

The psychiatry appointment is a good idea; this could be an onset of psychosis. Many hopes that it is not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is there any chance the avoidance of devices is photophobia? Is he intolerant of being in bright sunlight or newly insistent on sunglasses?

My kid with photophobia and misophonia was diagnosed with seizures as a teen.