Head shaking

[sierra1]

My 7 year old son is shaking his head every couple on second. We thought it is because he needed a hear cut. we took him to get the hair cut and it subsided a little for a couple weeks, but never went away. Now it is getting worse. People are noticeing his shaking. I really am concerned his friends are going to tease him. Is this something to be concered about? Could this be an indication of something medically wrong?

[Kestra]

Have you tried asking him about it?  He is most likely aware of it, and asking about it could eliminate some of the less serious causes.  It could simply be a habit he developed from copying a friend in school.

On the other hand, the first thing that comes to mine upon reading your description is Tourette Syndrome.  Some less likely possibilities may include Sensory Integration Dysfunction, or Epilepsy (Simple Partial Seizures).

I would ask him about it first though, perhaps it's just a bad habit.  If you are still concerned, then perhaps it would be best to visit your pediatrician.

`Kestra

[sierra1]

Kestra,
Thanks for writing. I have asked him about it, He says he can't help it.  I ask him to stop, and he says "what am I doing". I tell him he is shaking his head. I think I am going to make an apt w/ his Dr. just to rule anything out. I think I am bothered by it more then he is.

[sm001]

Hi , I am now 36 and this habit of shaking my head has come and gone three times in my life. The first was when I was about 7, then it came back at 20, then at 26. I feel like I have had it ever since though it seems more pronounced when I'm tired. If I am lying down with my head resting I can control it. I haven't seen a doctor about it but it might be time although it hasn't evolved into anything worse over the years!
This is the first time I have talked about it and I hope it gives you another angle on the subject.

[rilbrianne]

You need to speak to his pediatrician about it, it isn't normal and could be a sign of a medical problem.   How long has he been doing it?  

[ASHCAM222]

hi, im a 27 yr old single mother with a 7 yr old son. my son and i both have tourettes and ocd. is anyone else in this situation?

[AngelaMary43]

Hi, I'm a 43 year old mother of a daughter who will be 6 in a couple of weeks.  She started shaking her head about a month ago.  We too got her a haircut and thought that would be that.  She still does it and sometimes has a little hum going with it.  She says she knows that she is doing it but can't help it and I believe her as she will do it right before she is asleep as well.  I asked her if something was bothering her (thought maybe she is self soothing) and all she said was that she misses me now that school has started.  I got her started on Amoxicillin this week as sometimes an untreated strep infection can cause wierd symptoms like this.  I don't know if it will work but it's worth a try.  I am very happy to know that I am not alone in this.  Getting worried.
AngelaMary43

[Cazza0104]

I have an 8 yr old boy who is also shaking his head uncontrollably. He says he is aware that he has to do it because his head feels funny, but I'm not sure, as he does it when he's half asleep.

I have been told to ignore it and it will go away, as it's common for this age group to have nervous tics.. He is also putting his fingers up to his nose at the same time, which looks really weird. He is at a lovely school, where he is not bullied, but I am worried sick about him. Is it Tourettes, a habit, or an ear infection? It came on after two weeks of swimming, but also loads of computer games on holiday may have been the cause? He's very bright, and he doesn't seem to have been affected in that department yet.

I am planning on taking him to the doctor as it's now been a month. Have he antibiotics worked for you?

[lovemykiddos]

I have an 11 year old that did the same thing. i had asked him to stop and didnt didnt even know what he was doing.and his dr said it was his tourettes

[imjustagurl]

My 7 year old started doing this (head shaking) in early April '09.  A few weeks later he came down with strep.  We put him on abx, and it looked like it was starting to subside, but then started getting worse - arms shaking, doing a funny shuffle while he walked.  Then he got a fever again, and I got a sore throat.  We both went to the doctor and we both had strep!  I probably reinfected him and he never really got over it the first time.  He's now been on abx for just over a week and the symptoms have gone away.  I'm going to call his pedi in the morning to see if he should be on a longer course of abx than 10 days.

[helvad]

has anyone experienced this head shaking symptom long term?  my son started at 4mos old and is almost 7yo and still does it!  he is aware of it, he only does it when he's awake and he can stop for a few seconds but then he starts again. he's had eye, ear tests along with MRIs and there are no problems.  his dr keeps saying it's only a habit but i don't believe a habit developed at 4mos as soon as he learned to sit up.  i feel that there must be a medical reason for this behaviour.  he's always had trouble at school focussing, reading, writing etc. i am not sure who to approach to get him further tests?

[luvanurse21]

in response to the 4 mo old, my son too has been doing this at about 4 months, and still does it and he is 2 1/2.  He is a little developmentally delayed, and I am trying to find the cause of this because it is usually when he is tired or woken up and is still sleepy, but he makes a moaning noise with it.  It is more frequent at night, throughtout the whole night, he sits up in bed and does this till either he falls asleep sitting straight up or falls over in bed.  My heart aches for him because he is up through most of the night, and there is nothing I can do to soothe him.  Please, if you find out more information, please email me ***@****.

Thank You

[supermomma531]

Hello there ladies, I think that you both need to take your children for 2nd opinions because what you are both saying sounds like Tourettes Syndrome. I think that having your children be seen by pediatric neurologists is a must! This really is the only way to get truthful answers for your concerns. Keep on going to different doctors until you are satisfied! I hope that you both get the proper answers. Good Luck!