Tics

About a month or so ago my 9 year old son started blinking his eyes alot.About 2 weeks ago he started rolling his shoulders and stretching his neck.My concern is that this my be the start of TS.He is a A student and becomes very upset if his grades are anything other than an A.When I made him aware of the eye blinking he said" I did not know I was doing it".This has gotten better but then the other movements have started.I took him to his reg. MD and because he had a sore throat in September which was neg. for strep at that time ,she seems to think that we may have missed a strep infection and this could be causing the tics.We are to have lab work done and if this is normal,we will follow up with a neurologist.What would be your steps and treatment for these tics and should I worry that this maybe TS?
                                       Thank you,

[Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D.]

It is a reasonable concern, but you are proceeding in the sensible fashion. I would follow up with the neurologist regardless of the outcome of the lab work.

[casfrog]

I just wanted to let you know that my son also had an "eye blinking" problem and cracked his neck alot in addition to other "tic" related body movements.  I was told that these were possibly a form of anxiety created by my son's need to do well when sometimes he jsut couldn't ie: schoolwork, social stressors and the like.  I addressed it to my son who also said " oh-wasn't aware that I was doing that" and gently reminded him when he would start to blink his eyes rapidly---almost always after a stressful event ie: soccer practice, school tests and being social.  My son is now 13 and doing pretty well-- i provide him with a calming home life and this has helped as well as talking to him-- at night-- about his daily events.

just feedback from a parent

[Mom Di]

Thank you so much for your comment.It is comforting to know that your son is doing better.My son thinks he needs to do great in every area and he really becomes upset and worried when he does not.I encourage him to just to his best and no matter the outcome we would always love him.He is attending a new school now and does not really have any of his old friends in his class.From the start of this school year he has not enjoyed it.He tells me he is ok but I know he does not like going to school this year since his group of friends have been split up in different classes.Most of the kids have been together since kindergarten.We have tried to enourage that ths is just the 4th grade and he should not worry so much but enjoy school.From here on we will encourge good work but will not get upset when he come home with a B.I try to take each day and make it special for him and find the fun in what he is having to do at school.I hope and pray that when we all relax it will make things better.
                               Thank You,
                                  Mom

[KatieDee]

Hi:

I just wanted to give you some reassurance that even if your son does have Tourettes he'll be okay.  Generally a diagnosis of Tourettes is not made until symptoms have been present for at least a year with both motor and vocal tics and with no more than a three month cessation of symptoms.  There is also something called transient tics which means that it will eventually go away.  My nephew had an eye blinking tic for about a year, but he's tic-free now, so we know it was transient and not Tourettes.  I have an 8 yr. old son with Tourettes (since 1999) and there are naturally good days and bad days.  With Tourettes the tics can change.  Some days (or weeks) they might have a very pronounced tic, such as throat clearing or head nodding and you think their head is going to fly off or they'll get laryngitis when it's at its worst.  But eventually the tics get less and the length of time varies from person to person.  Since tics naturally wax and wane there is no rule of how long a tic stays around or that when it seems to be gone if the same tic will return or even when a tic will return.  It's so variable.  There are medications to try that are prescribed by a neurologist if they feel the tics are severe enough to warrant it.  Some people have noticed that stress will make their tics worse, but personally I have not be able to pinpoint that in my son.  On days when everything couldn't be better you might see him with severe tics.  On other days when he's stressed out over homework or not getting his way with his siblings you might not see any tics.  I have seen a correlation between illness, particularly strep throat, and an increase in his tics.  And illness is a form of stress.  I do think it wise to see a neurologist for a good workup.  There are also many good Web sites about Tourettes and tics.  Wishing you the best for your son.

KatieDee

[Mom Di]

Hi,
      Again Iam thankful for other caring parents with such comforting comments.I wish you well with your son and I will keep you posted .

[kist1]

My daughter is 2 1/2 and she recently started blinking rapidly.
When i took her to the doctor they were surprised that she would be showing signs of a tic at her age.  It has only been going on for a few days.  I was researching as much as i could and it seems no matter what i look at it always brings up tourette's.
Does anyone know what the odds are for a child developing a tic to develope tourette's. Maybe i am scaring myself by woring about it so soon. I have another baby on the way and i keep seeing that if one child has it there is a 50% chance the next one will too. You always wish for the easiest route for your children.! Any feedback would be helpful

[jessy424]

A related discussion, Tics showing in 6 year old was started.