Facial Tics in Children. Anyone have a kid with one?

Our 6 year old son over the past 3 or 4 weeks has developed a rather pronounced facial tic. He juts his lower jaw out and rolls his eyes. Sometimes he doesn't even know he's doing it. The kids at school are beginning to tease him and I can see it bothers him. He tries to stop himself by chewing on his finger or sucking in his lips.

We've watched for patterns, like stress, over-tired, etc. Nothing has shown itself (yet). Sometimes he doesn't do it at all; other times it's pretty constant. No change from either alergy meds or prescription eye drops.

His doctor has found nothing physical yet. She got to see it first-hand this week. He had a blood test also, but haven't got results. She's suggested a trip to a neurologist.

I'm trying to not mention it to him or freak him out, or get frustrated about it, but my wife and I are getting a bit worried.

So has anyone else gone thru this?

Thanks,

RL

they started at age 9. It turned out to be Tourette's. A neurological exam is necessary to determine what's going on. Hang in there. There are medications to help. This friend of ours has pretty severe tics that seem to vary greatly. She has learned how to deal with comments very well. But the process has not been easy. When is the neurological going to be?

unless we can find one sooner. We are calling around now.

Thanks

RL

Sounds like it could be Tourettes, but whatever it is, it's atypical development.

http://jaynagirl.cwd-cragin.com/?Script=tourette_faq

I hope it's not TS.

RL

I'm thinking good thoughts for you and your son!

I do appreciate it.

His teachers today said that he wasn't having any tics today.

Weird

:shrug:

RL

my friend's kid is very outgoing, is involved in acting and sports. She now takes a cocktail of meds that has the tics pretty much under control and she takes responsibility for her meds when she goes away on vacations with us. She's 11. She seems to have found a way of covering whatever tics she has by acting like she planned it. Demand to be seen right away. This is too important for your child's well being. (I'd be really anxious if I was you.)

but we are leaving town for a week and will have to wait until we get back. Our pediatrician okayed waiting.

RL

Perhaps your son is different but the tic you described is exactly the same as my nephew Jake's. Onset is about the same time. He was also mistakenly diagnosed with ADD and put on meds for it. I imagine that the Tourettes caused him to appear ADD because it interrupted his ability to concentrate. The ADD meds made his Tourette's worse. He began blinking his eyes and twisting his head. He couldn't read because the tics would constantly interrupt. It made doing school work impossible. Eventually they got him off the ADD meds and he did fine after that. Unfortunately by then he had a lot of catching up to do in school.

Now he's almost 21 and though he still has minor tics, he's getting along fine. His trouble in school discouraged him from attempting college but he has a good job and a nice girl friend. Tourette's is not the end of the world. Don't let it scare you. Whatever the doctors decide the cause is, he'll be fine - especially with concerned, caring and supportive parents behind him.

I appreciate it.

RL

I fretted like mad for some time.

Other than the school kids teasing I honestly wouldn't worry. I actually started homeschooling my daughter for various reasons and her tics are greatly improved. * You might want to consider asking your teacher to discuss "tics" in class, and possibly read a book to the kids about them in class, without directly mentioning your son? I think it's best to be open about things and de-mystify the situation if possible. The kids in class can learn about tics and learn that they are fairly common. I know Amazon has some good books on the subject for kids.

Also, interestingly enough my daugther had the very same tic (along with others.) I taught her to take a deep breath when she feels one coming and that seems to help? The technique is called habit reversal and it seems to really be working for her.

Here's the google on habit reversal and tic disorders.

http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rls=RNWE,RNWE:2004-45,RNWE:en&q=tic+disorder+and+habit+reversal

A good article on this here:
http://www.pamf.org/health/healthinfo/index.cfm?section=healthinfo&page=article&sgml_id=ug2387-sec

We also try relaxation techniques, warm baths, soft music, massage etc...

A ped neuro will likely not be that familiar with habit reversal just yet. I was discouraged to learn that all they do is basically prescribe pills. And, said pills aren't that effective. And, said pills might not be the cause of any remission that occurs because tics wax/wane. :crazy:

Recently, I picked up a book about 6 year olds called "Your six year old, loving and defiant" and the book says that parents often report tic like behavior in their 6 year old children? I was actually pissed because I went through numerous blood tests and have an appointment with a ped neuro and no one mentioned that this is actually common. In fact, my daughter was yawning at a Christmas gathering and my cousin said "are you tired" she said no, it's to stop my tic. My cousin then confided in me that her 6 year old son had a tic and she was amazed that my daughter was able to recognize and prevent a tic. I actually didn't know she wasn't tired either LOL.

Anyhow, I have done some research, so feel free to PM me.

It's really not as bad as you think ok, it's hereditary and very very common - especially in boys. We've got it on both sides of the family and I recall a slight facial tic in myself when I was a kid, which I'd forgotten all about.

A ped neuro will likely just prescribe meds they can have serious side effects so? I wouldn't rule out seeing a neuro, but keep in mind they solve problems with pills. I asked about cognitive or behavioral therapy and they said they didn't generally do anything but prescribe meds? But I'm seeing a neuro just to see what they say. Doesn't mean I'll take their advice.

I sent a PM. Feel free to drop me a note too.

:hug:

So sorry to ramble, just want to pass on a bit of my thoughts.

My wife and I both read them and appreciate your words.

His blood test came back with a positive for Strep, and we also found as tear in his eardrum, where his tubes were surgically removed 2 years ago, and a graft didn't take.

We're gonna take care of these two things and take it from there, and see what happens with the tic over time.

Relaxation techniques are kinda tricky with an active 6yr old, and his equally active 4 yr old sister constantly chasing him around :D but they do have promise. He uses a finger in his mouth for a reversal trechnique, I believe, and came up with it on his own.

A ped neuro Prescribing meds is not a choice I favor.

Thanks

RL

I have lots of info on dietary changes as well (if the tic doesn't clear up with antibiotics) if your interested at some point?

But again, know that Tics and the age six often go hand in hand.

The book I mentioned is at most local library's, and while it's an "old fashioned book" - published 25 years ago, it's full of loads of good information. I'd recommend picking it up at the library and simply disregarding the "archaic" stuff.

Best wishes RL.

:hug:

The Tics have nearly disappeared. He's now gone a few day without them. We are still going to see the PN but I am pretty adamant against drugging a 6 year old.

Thanks again for your caring replies...

RL

:)

There are natural things that some with tic disorders swear by.

Taurine, found in eggs, meats, fish, is supposed to help. Apparently you can get this in power form also.

Take care.

require medications and that tics can be common. They tend to be exacerbated with stress. Unfortunately, a lot of folks do push meds for everything. It is kind of confusing.

My son was having ADD issues and went to a special clinic for a proper diagnosis. They diagnosed Tourettes even though he doesn't have any facial tics or anything else. They claimed that Tourettes was the over-reaching umbrella diagnosis for the entire autistic spectrum ie. Aspergers and PDD-NOS is under Tourette's which is just plain wrong.

I pulled him out of there immediately.

I feel like my kid is still the same kid I was born with regardless what "label" they slap on her.

My daughter also has ADD like qualities, I'm certain if I'd been the type to complain, rather than embrace who she is, she'd have been on meds long ago.

Tourettes is under a different area than ASDs. ASDs have their own area.

She blinked and squinched her face simultaneously. Our MD suggested acupuncture, and it worked.

and it went fine.

My wife said he was a very nice doctor, very forthcoming with info, said he didn't like prescribing anything if he didn't have to, and said it is NOT tourrettes after doing a whole battery of tests

In his opinion, it is just a garden variety TIC. He said keep an eye on it, but ignore it as far as mentioning it to him. SOmetimes kids use it to get attention, etc.

It really seems to have gone away, for the most part now.

Thanks everyone for your concern and info.

RL