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Tics

Lori - posted on 07/21/2009 ( 3 moms have responded )

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My son is 5yrs old and was diagnosed with tics at age 2. He has done these movements since he was old enough to move his hands and feet in a circular motion (first seen it at 6/8mos old). He only does this movement when he is excited about something, but he can not help himself. He has to do it. I took him to a neurologist to confirm he wasn't having seizures however I am not getting much more information other than he may or may not grow out of it. Looking for other mothers who have the same issue and what you have found out about it.

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Lori - posted on 07/21/2009

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The strange part is what he does is not a "normal" tic that most people are aware of such as the movement of the head, the yelling, etc...I also thought it maybe due to stress, but the only time he does it is when he is excited about something (new toy, setting up his leggos, etc.) The movement is rotation of his wrists & ankles with movement of the fingers. His mouth turns to the shape of an O as he holds his breath. I am very nervous about him going to school next year since he is unable to control the tics at this time. I thought it was tourettes at first but the neurologist said it was not, but in the family of it. The neurologist called it Dystonia (however I do not agree since this disorder is usually movement of the neck) His movements are very different than those with Dystonia... He actually called it Ritualistic Dystonia. Just looking for someone that has a similar case.

Shelagh - posted on 07/21/2009

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My middle son has Tourette's. He tics all the time. The tic he has had the longest is sniffing. When he was a baby he would bury his head in my neck and hair when I was holding him. This would actually calm him down. He likes to sniff hair. He also still has a bedtime "teddy" that I have had to replace the body on twice because he wouldn't take a new one. We allowed him to tic at home without commenting on it so that he would have a "safe,nonjudgemental"place he could do his ticks. He has also had throat tics and he also hopped as a tic. At the beginning of the school year we would talk to the teacher so they would be aware and not punish him for the behaviour. He is now 21 going to college after working for a couple of years and has a wonderful girlfriend who lets him sniff her hair. The tics usually lessen as the get older and they can also grow out of them. Sometimes they also change. They also do become aware of them as they get older and they can control for a limited amount of time. That is why we gave him a safe place to release his tics.

Georgia - posted on 07/21/2009

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I am in no way an expert in this area... but I did work in a children's pych hospital a few years ago and my step son has a similar problem. He twitches his head to the side and can't seem to help it... I don't believe he is even aware that he's doing it. The movements I've seen in the hospital and with my step son seem to be made worse when they are under some kind of stress. In the hospital, they used behavioral therapy to help lesson the tics. It was set up so that certain cues were given by the staff to the child when the tics began so that he or she could become aware of when they were making the movements. They were given an alternative activity at that time....I do not know if this is still practiced today, but it did seem to lessen the tics. Worth a try anyways.

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