9yr old Boy Showing hand flapping and other tics

[mskitty600]

Hi, my partners little bother has been doing all kinds of weird tics this past year and seems to have gotten worse since moving up to fourth grade. This year at school almost every day he has had to go to the office for not listening and running from teachers off school grounds, throwing rocks at little girls, skipping class in the bathrooms he has been expelled many times. The teachers don't know what to do and neither do we. He's tics include making strange outburst of loud noises, woohs or humming, he rolls his head at times, will open his eyes real wide, will laugh out loud most the time in peoples faces being disrespectful, he will walk kind of funny stiff legged. He now is flapping his hands, which he just picked that one up, It seems as if his tics are randomize he finds a new noise to make or a new body jerk. We asked him why he does it he says he can't help it. He feels like he has to do it. I notice he tends to do it more when he gets nervous or little stressed out. I know there are some girls at his school that pick on him because he wet himself a while back and there is also a cousin that he shares his class they seem to influence each other to do bad things like ditch class etc. I first thought well he's just a "boy" and boys will be boys. But now he's gone to far missed to much school and he is hurting other classmates. When we talk to him about it he can't make eye contact.. I'm just worried it might be something more. I know  some of his family med history and that he has a relative that is schizophrenic and mother that is Bi-polar. Huh we just don't know what to do. I know were going to end up taking him to a specialist but our biggest fear is having them put him on a bunch of meds like his relatives. Were looking for advice and new ways of dealing with it and helping him with out meds because everyday phone calls from school is just getting to be to much....

Thanks
-Kitty

[JimH68]

Have him tested for STREP, ask for the more comprehensive test that shows elevated TITER count as opposed to the quick-test in the Doctor's office.  Also, does he have any food allergies?  Check into these even if it means just one more thing to rule out and check off the list of possibilities.

[mskitty600]

He might could be Autistic because he has a cousin who is.. But im thinking Tourettes might be more of what he has with a mix of OCD. Just a year ago he seemed fine he was very quiet in class was little slow in comprehension but did very well and now I was wondering if possible something bad happend to him to bring out this other side. I know there has to be mommy issues cause his mother has drug problems and comes and goes luckly she don't have custody but shes still in his life. Every time he gets in trouble at school she doesn't wanna do anything about it and sticks up for him which i totally disagree with i think he should have some sort of discipline like taking his video games away no playing outside stuff like that.. its frustrating for me because i care about him and i can see that the way he is headed is no good. Im pretty sure though we are going to take him to a OT.

[RockRose]

Sounds like Tourette's Syndrome.   Has he been evaluated by an Occupational Therapist?  Sounds like he needs a referral to an OT.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/tourette-syndrome/DS00541/DSECTION=symptoms

[iris986]

Could he possibly be Autistic?