Worried that my Son has Tics

Hi, my Son will be 7 on December 29th 2011, and about a year ago my Son was doing this head shake thing. It went away now is back.... and it is worse. His hass shakes and sometimes does this shoulder roll thing. When I ask him about it, and ask him if he can stop it, he says it hurts. Monday morning I'm making a appointment with a child neurololgist. I'm so worried about this, and I want to get help for him, but Id hate to see him have to go on medication for it. Is this something that can go away or be treated without medication? I'm worried about the side affects medication have on kids, weight gain etc. But, I also want to do the best thing for my Son. Also, we have moved to the suburbs from the city, to get him in a better school. He dosent like the new house, kids and parents are very snobby, and he miss his old school friends etc. I sometime wish we didnt move and often think about going back.... Could the stress of all this cause tics? But he did have it a little bit about 8 or 9 months before the move, but nothing like it is now.. Any advice would be greatly appreciated, thanks! Nina

[Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D.]

No, stress does not cause tics, but it can exacerbate them. Most involuntary muscle movements in children are transitory in nature - they appear and then disappear. However, this is not always the case. You are correct in scheduling the neurology appointmernt. You should not call your son's attenmtion to the tics - he cannot help it, the movements are by definition involuntary.