tic?

[angie r]

My ds has developed a tic. Does anyone know anything about them? My ped said he should outgrow it. It causes him to close his eyes while his head shifts to one side. I've been noticing it for about 3 weeks now. ?(

[MaryL]

I've seen kids with "tics"...no advice for you, though.:( I've also heard that they outgrow them. I found this on the internet...kind of explains tics (don't want it to scare you though, because I think that tics are more common than we realize!)





Tics

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Childhood habits like twisting or chewing hair, grinding teeth, tugging on ears, and nail biting sometimes are confused with tic behaviors. Nervous habits like these are controllable behaviors that develop in times of stress. They are common in school-aged children as they adjust to new routines, new schools, and new friendships.

Nervous habits are often outlets for pent-up energy. Do not worry about them unless they are done compulsively. Sometimes a change of scenery, a gentle awareness discussion, or relaxation exercises will help break the habit. Childhood nervous habits usually stop when the child learns more effective ways of comforting himself while coping with stress.

Tics, on the other hand, are involuntary muscle movements that are physical problems, not psychological ones. Motor tics include eye blinking or squinting, shrugging the shoulders, grimacing, repetitive coughing or shaking the head. Vocal tics include tongue clicking, clearing the throat, sniffing, coughing, or saying words out of context. In rare cases, children may curse or say unpleasant things that they do not mean.

These behaviors are not used to calm a child as with a nervous habit, because they are not in the child's control. While their presence may seem as if the child is experiencing stress, they generally are not direct responses to stress or anxiety. They can happen randomly.

Tics are inherited. One child in eight develops a tic. Boys get tics four times more often than girls. Tic behaviors may disappear after a few weeks or months. They may never come back or may reappear off and on. Tourette Syndrome is a more severe case of tics that can carry over into adulthood. These tics occur in multiple forms and can be suppressed for short times from minutes to hours. Doing so may make them worse for a while afterwards. These tics are affected by stress and disappear while sleeping.

Sometimes abnormal body movements, much like tics, represent a form of rheumatic fever or a neurologic problem. For this reason, whenever there are abnormal body movements, a healthcare provider should be consulted.

Never punish or shame a child for exhibiting tic behaviors or nervous habits. Children cannot stop their tic behaviors because they are involuntary. Talking about them or telling the child to stop does not solve the problem. Doing so may make them worse. Do not make a big deal out of the behaviors.

Noticeable tic behavior should be explained to the child's teacher and other adults who see the child often. Discuss mild tic activity with your child's healthcare provider. Children with severe tics should be medically examined immediately.

Copyright (c) 1998. HBO & Company (602) 230-7575. All Rights Reserved.

[angie r]

Thank you for the info MaryL! I heard all of this from my ped so it didn't scare me. The Tourette's Syndrome of course had me freaking out at first, but she said it is very rare. He doesn't even know he does it. For it to be so common, I've never heard of it, so I pray he outgrows it and it doesn't get any worse. I don't see anywhere that he will outgrow it though? :\

[angie r]

Oops! Brichard just pointed out in the article that the tic may disappear after a day or a few months! Yeah! :)

[princess mommy]

I have develped a tic during my pregnancy that makes one of my eyes shudder. My midwife thinks it may be hormones and stress. If your son is about that age (unknown to me) he may be dealing with a pre-pube hormone rush that has to do with it. Also look at recent events to see if he is under more stress right now.

Hope this helps. Good Luck!:newwink: