You know how they say a picture is worth a thousand words?
Well, for one little boy, a photo of his mum’s ultrasound scan didn’t just speak. It screamed.
Paige had proudly hung up the scans of her sister’s baby, thinking nothing of it other than the excitement of a little one on the way.
But then her two-year-old son started reacting in a way that left her completely stumped.
“Too loud,” he declared, covering his ears every time he passed the picture.
“How does he know sound created that image?”
Baffled, Paige took to TikTok to share his reaction and ask if anyone knew what might be going on.
In the now-viral video, which has racked up more than 17 million views, the toddler is visibly uncomfortable, even asking his mum to “put it away.”
She explained that he’s always been musically inclined, drawn to singing, sounds, and instruments, but this was different.
“Does he remember being in the womb and the ultrasound being loud?” she wondered aloud.
“Can he see the sound waves on the image? How does he know sound created that image?”
Eventually, she gave in and put the scan away in a drawer.
“That’s better,” he said, visibly relieved.
The comment section of the video quickly jumped to one explanation: synesthesia.
“Synesthesia in and of itself is not a medical condition or mental health condition, it is a way of experiencing the world,” psychologist Tanya Forster told Kidspot.
“No cause for concern”
Synesthesia is a fascinating neurological trait where one sense involuntarily triggers another.
Some people see colours when they hear music. Others associate tastes with names.
In rare cases, visual input, like an image, can activate the auditory parts of the brain.
“It is thought that some people with synesthesia have more connections within their brain, which might contribute to why one sensory input can activate multiple brain areas,” Tanya explained.
And while Paige’s son hasn’t been officially diagnosed with synesthesia, the video struck a chord with thousands of commenters who either live with the trait, have witnessed it, or are raising children who have it.
“There is no cause for concern… Synesthetic experiences can actually be enriching and creatively inspiring,” Tanya said.
If a child mentions unusual sensory experiences, the best approach is to stay curious.
“Avoid judgment or criticism and attempt to gain information and understand their experience,” Tanya advises.
“If you are unsure, if you think the symptom might be part of a broader concern, or if it is causing your child distress, providers such as Psychologists or Paediatricians can help. Your GP can also be a great place to start.”
Whether it was a quirky moment or a glimpse into something more, one thing is clear: that little boy might just be hearing the world in a way most of us can’t.
Who knows, he might just be the next Beethoven.
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