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Tics?
My 7 year old son had an eye rolling behavior on and off for about 2 years. It would disappear for 6+ months at a time. My ped thought it was allergy related but out ENT thought it was a tic. He wasn't concerned and said it would go away. It did. Now in the past few days he has been doing this throat clearing noise. Definitely a tic.
My question is, does this sound like Tourette's? As far as I can see, he doesn't reach the criteria. He seems to have a tic which is then replaced with something else and they only last for a few weeks or months. Never at the same time or even in the same months. He also had this neck shrugging Inbetween the eye rolling and throat clearing. He said his neck was hurting so i am not sure if it was a tic or actual discomfort. He only did it for a week.
Does this sound more like transient tic disorder? Also, no behavior issues. No add, OCD, no family hx, Does great in school. Just a happy go lucky, active little guy.
My question is, does this sound like Tourette's? As far as I can see, he doesn't reach the criteria. He seems to have a tic which is then replaced with something else and they only last for a few weeks or months. Never at the same time or even in the same months. He also had this neck shrugging Inbetween the eye rolling and throat clearing. He said his neck was hurting so i am not sure if it was a tic or actual discomfort. He only did it for a week.
Does this sound more like transient tic disorder? Also, no behavior issues. No add, OCD, no family hx, Does great in school. Just a happy go lucky, active little guy.
I also just heard back from his teacher this morning. she said she only notices an increased blinking behavior from him when he gets nervous or asks a question. She hasn't noticed any sounds or behaviors that seem out of the norm. She did mention that he has been a bit more fidgety and had some increased activity at school(needing to stand more, getting out of his seat, etc) but she said many of the kids have been acting this way due to the cold weather, lack of activity, etc. She didn't feel it was concerning at all and isn't effecting his work quality. So for now, we will just wait and see.
Oh good. You sound like you have a good handle on it. The way I look at it--- I do my best to handle a situation and if it seems 'out of my control' and I'm deeply concerned, then I go to a professional for help.
I know I have worries about my son so that when a tic starts, I get anxious myself. :>) I worry about him. Around the time of the eye blinking episodes, he was being diagnosed with a developmental delay so I too began to worry that he'd have a lifetime of serious tics. Well, he does have tics related to his anxiety but working on the anxiety helps lesson the tics.
So, moms have to do what they think is best and I guess worry just comes with the job. But you sound like things are going well and I'm happy to hear that! Keep in touch if more happens!
I know I have worries about my son so that when a tic starts, I get anxious myself. :>) I worry about him. Around the time of the eye blinking episodes, he was being diagnosed with a developmental delay so I too began to worry that he'd have a lifetime of serious tics. Well, he does have tics related to his anxiety but working on the anxiety helps lesson the tics.
So, moms have to do what they think is best and I guess worry just comes with the job. But you sound like things are going well and I'm happy to hear that! Keep in touch if more happens!
Thank you! Yes, I know what you mean about 4th grade. I have a 10 year old daughter.
I am trying so hard to ignore him and for the past 2 days, it seems have lessened a bit. We did pay tons of attention to the eye rolling(or eye stretching as he called it) and looking back, it really prolonged the course of it. It's funny because the day I took him to an ENT who told me it was normal to have tics at this age, I stopped worrying about it and stopped talking to him about it. Within 2 days, he completely stopped doing it!
I should have mentioned that I am an RN so I tend to freak over behaviors that may have a medical cause. I really appreciated the feedback and feel much more equipped(emotionally) to help my son and just let these things work themselves out.
I tried the gum chewing and it worked GREAT!!
I am trying so hard to ignore him and for the past 2 days, it seems have lessened a bit. We did pay tons of attention to the eye rolling(or eye stretching as he called it) and looking back, it really prolonged the course of it. It's funny because the day I took him to an ENT who told me it was normal to have tics at this age, I stopped worrying about it and stopped talking to him about it. Within 2 days, he completely stopped doing it!
I should have mentioned that I am an RN so I tend to freak over behaviors that may have a medical cause. I really appreciated the feedback and feel much more equipped(emotionally) to help my son and just let these things work themselves out.
I tried the gum chewing and it worked GREAT!!
By the way, when my son was a toddler--- he started doing a blinking action. My strategy (after freaking out a bit) then was to ignore it and it did go away. he's never had a blinking issue since. But these other things surfaced as he got older and are related to his anxiety. good luck
Oh yes, Sandman, we do have those types of things. Depending on the situation. We do openly talk about it and my son can now verbalize what he is feeling. About 95 percent of the time he is nervous, super excited, or worried and he that seems to help him calm down. So, we talk about why he is feeling the way he is. This helps.
We have lots of soothing things that we have available for him. Everything from as Sandman said--- chewy tubes (you can get this at an occupational therapy outlet online, cheap!) to hand fidgets to even a simple piece of chewing gum.
I don't make a huge deal out of the actual tic. I know I initially did because I didn't want him to have it. But I try really hard not to.
the other thing important for my son is to monitor what is going on. Examples--- he plays in a pretty competitive basketball league. Some of these boys play 6 days a week on a couple of teams. My son has his strong points in b ball but is not as skilled as some of his teammates. My husband's inclination is to not just work with him off practice/court time but to give him 22 suggestions right before a game. My wise son knows that he has his role on the team but he isn't a star and with dad trying to pump him up, he's a nervous wreck by the time he hits the court. So, Dad has learned to dial it back. Good intentions, wrong way to go about it. Does that make sense? I looked at what was going on and where we could eliminate things that ADD to his anxiety. Another example--- my son is a really good student and thank goodness, he's found the self motivation in that aspect of his academics. It's very important to him and he takes it seriously. he's 10 andi n 4th grade and nowadays, 4th grade is like the first year of college compared to when I was in school. Okay, kidding--- but we are often blown away with what they teach these kids. Anyway, My son has in his mind that a B is not good enough. I realized that I was contributing to that by looking over his test and asking him why he missed such and such question and commenting-- oh, you knew that or should have known that one! I just have learned to be supportive without it sounding like a criticism. And, be on the look out for perfectionist tendencies. My son has these. His anxiety level about screwing up causes him to want everything perfect. We've worked on that as well.
so, my point is, kids do have pressure on them. Some you can control and some you can't. We pick wisely when it comes to our words, when it comes to our sons activities, etc. And this helps to overall decrease his anxiety level.
Kids can have a lot going on internally and a tic may be an outward sign of that. good luck
We have lots of soothing things that we have available for him. Everything from as Sandman said--- chewy tubes (you can get this at an occupational therapy outlet online, cheap!) to hand fidgets to even a simple piece of chewing gum.
I don't make a huge deal out of the actual tic. I know I initially did because I didn't want him to have it. But I try really hard not to.
the other thing important for my son is to monitor what is going on. Examples--- he plays in a pretty competitive basketball league. Some of these boys play 6 days a week on a couple of teams. My son has his strong points in b ball but is not as skilled as some of his teammates. My husband's inclination is to not just work with him off practice/court time but to give him 22 suggestions right before a game. My wise son knows that he has his role on the team but he isn't a star and with dad trying to pump him up, he's a nervous wreck by the time he hits the court. So, Dad has learned to dial it back. Good intentions, wrong way to go about it. Does that make sense? I looked at what was going on and where we could eliminate things that ADD to his anxiety. Another example--- my son is a really good student and thank goodness, he's found the self motivation in that aspect of his academics. It's very important to him and he takes it seriously. he's 10 andi n 4th grade and nowadays, 4th grade is like the first year of college compared to when I was in school. Okay, kidding--- but we are often blown away with what they teach these kids. Anyway, My son has in his mind that a B is not good enough. I realized that I was contributing to that by looking over his test and asking him why he missed such and such question and commenting-- oh, you knew that or should have known that one! I just have learned to be supportive without it sounding like a criticism. And, be on the look out for perfectionist tendencies. My son has these. His anxiety level about screwing up causes him to want everything perfect. We've worked on that as well.
so, my point is, kids do have pressure on them. Some you can control and some you can't. We pick wisely when it comes to our words, when it comes to our sons activities, etc. And this helps to overall decrease his anxiety level.
Kids can have a lot going on internally and a tic may be an outward sign of that. good luck
I really appreciate all of your responses. My son doesn't seem to have anxiety per se but he is an incredibly sensitive soul. My older daughter is kind of dramatic and my younger daughter in a handful so I think that sometimes just the every day chaos makes him anxious!! He gets very upset whenever there is any fighting or arguing(usually involving my older daughter) he does get very anxious and will do anything to make the fight stop. I am going to work on these everyday anxieties with him.
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I agree, I would work on root causes. (doubt if its anything like Tourette's), but more importantly I would work on other things he can do when he feels like this. I know Specialmom's son has things that he can use to help him calm down like things to chew on or soft balls to squish, etc. I am sure she will get back to you with some of these ideas.
Hi there, so often tics are a sign of something else as it has been with my own son. Does your son have anxiety?
It took me a while to pick up on my own son's anxiety. He tries very hard and seems to put a great deal of pressure on himself. I have to watch it that I don't heap on the pressure myself. But his activities are often with very skilled peers and demanding coaches, he wants to do well in school and does but has to work hard at it.
I should mention that he has sensory integration disorder and was diagnosed at 4. So, he is doing great but has always had to work to fit in, be successful, etc. He's now 10 years old.
So, I would keep your eye on it. I'm not really sure if it is 'age related' as I don't hear of this often from others with kids that just have things that look like tics. maybe in the younger toddler years but not at 7.
My son also has a throat clearing tic at times, he has a complex vocal tic (says a single word) and has a tic he does with his hands of rolling his fingers. All come and go and are related to anxiety, nervousness, worry.
We work on the root cause and it helps it be less of something we see. good luck
It took me a while to pick up on my own son's anxiety. He tries very hard and seems to put a great deal of pressure on himself. I have to watch it that I don't heap on the pressure myself. But his activities are often with very skilled peers and demanding coaches, he wants to do well in school and does but has to work hard at it.
I should mention that he has sensory integration disorder and was diagnosed at 4. So, he is doing great but has always had to work to fit in, be successful, etc. He's now 10 years old.
So, I would keep your eye on it. I'm not really sure if it is 'age related' as I don't hear of this often from others with kids that just have things that look like tics. maybe in the younger toddler years but not at 7.
My son also has a throat clearing tic at times, he has a complex vocal tic (says a single word) and has a tic he does with his hands of rolling his fingers. All come and go and are related to anxiety, nervousness, worry.
We work on the root cause and it helps it be less of something we see. good luck
A lot of these behaviors could simply be age related. After all, he is only 7 years old. If these behaviors are not affecting him socially and if the school teacher doesn't recognize these behaviors as issues, then I wouldn't be concerned with them.
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