Speech or Maybe Psychological issue???

[threeisacharm23]

My 7 1/2 year old Daughter has recently started moving her lips for a quick second or two after she speaks. It kind of looks like she is still talking, like saying 2 or 3 more words after she speaks her sentence, but it's silent, and fast.
When i ask her what she is doing, or why she is doing it, she instantly gets upset, and looks embarrased kind of like she doesnt notice that she's doing it, and she'll say, "Everyone always asks me that at school". So what could this be, why is my daughter doing this???

[threeisacharm23]

I remember when i was a kid, around 9 or 10 years old, I  did 2  things that were repetitive ,like at school writing a sentence, or word over and over because it didn't look right/perfect/good enough, but i was never diagnosed with OCD and as time went by i got over it. I also used to make a low humming sound every time the TV got silent after a commercial was over, and i dont know why, but i stopped doing that too......So I wonder if she is just going through a phase like that which is why i dont want to jump on the phone with a therapist but i guess its better to be safe than sorry i wouldnt want things to get worse for her

[threeisacharm23]

Since she just started doing this, is there anything I can do in the meantime? I know with adults the therapist makes the individual "face their fears" but how does a 7 year old know what her fear is & what she thinks is going to  happen? I feel so bad that she is going through this...I have no idea what could be making her anxious

[kaylagween]

that what lots of kids with OCD do, even if its out loud, I've seen kids that repeats certian words.

ex. some kids might have a problem with words with the letter Z so they repeat the word a certian amount of times.

or they can repeat the exact thing twice.  like what shes doing.  she just does it silent so she doesn't draw attention to it.

one of the things that can cause OCD in children is when they feel like they have no control over things.   they do rituals (the speech thing is considered this) to control the outcome.  In their head they think that if they dont something bad will happen (even if the something bad is something little, like a time out, or it can be big like thinking someone will die)

  when it first starts its easier to get rid of the OCD.  as time goes on OCD can get worse and since they've been doing it so long it becomes a constant habit and makes it harder to get rid of.

I was alot older when I got help because my parents didnt know what it was.  but I worked with a child who got help after 2 weeks and she stoped very soon after she seen a therapistp

[threeisacharm23]

I just noticed this happening about 3 days ago. I just saw her do it again, and I can now make out what she was saying silently. It was exactly what she said out loud. So now I see that she is repeating her words & or sentences, but repeating it silently, or with a very very low kind of whisper. Does this sound like OCD?

[threeisacharm23]

Thank you for your replies

[kaylagween]

I had OCD when I was her age. I did things like this, because? my brain told me to i guess.  I would learn more about OCD and reasons why children get it.

I also would get really embarrassed and say I don't know, because I really didn't know why I did it. talk to a therapist, and when you ask about it make sure your daughters not around, It can make children feel really bad and not want to talk about it.  nothing could be worse then thinking your mom thinks something wrong with you.

I hope this helps

[specialmom]

Hm, I'm not sure.  Could she have a tooth loose and an urge to move her mouth in this way?  Could she have a nerve sensation that makes her do it?  Could it be a tic of some sort?  

Since it is embarrassing her, I'd go ahead and call your doctor about it.  My doctor will take a phone call from me and listen to a description of a problem and tell me if my child needs seen for it or not.  I call during the day and when the doctor has office hours.  So maybe it is time to run this by your pediatrician.  

good luck