Is something wrong with 4-yr. old?

My 4 yr. old son doesn't act normal to me.  He will not socialize with children his age or younger.  He acts afraid and will cry or hide. I had registered him in Preschool.  He cried so hard he was vomiting for days.  I had to withdraw him.  Also, afraid of loud noises, (fire trucks, trains, etc.).  Where ever he is at and hears these noises he never wants to go back to the same place or he'll cry and make his self sick. He also will cry if a stuffed toy makes any noised at all.  So I never buy him things that makes noises.   All this just seems odd to me and my family.   Any ideas what causes him to be this way?

[Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D.]

Such sensitivity to aspects of sensory input can be indicative of sensory integration problems, among other possibilities. If you have not already done so, arrange for a hearing evaluation and ask the clinician about following up with an assessment by an occupational therapist. Those two evaluations should point the way to some help and are logical first steps to take.