...to NOT take DD to the doctor?

[ArabellaRockerfella]

My dd who is 10yrs old had developed a twitch/facial tic. She scrunches her eyes up once or twice, sometimes she follows it by sucking in her cheeks and touching her face. This has developed over 3/4 months. I'm trying to ignore it but she is commenting on it saying she doesn't know why she does it, her sisters are teasing her a bit . She does dance and drama and the teachers are saying 'stand still, stop fidgeting'. I have offered her eye drops if her eyes feel dry but she won't have them. Should I carry on ignoring it or take her to the GP, would there even be any treatment? Should I be worried?Any advice please?

[LIZS]

She might have blepharitis if her eyes are irritated and dry. Is she prone to eye infections?

[Aeroflotgirl]

Yes I would poor thing, why would you not! There could be something underlying, you don't know.

[DonkeyOaty]

Yes please do. It could be blepharitis as pp said.

[ByTheNine]

I'd take her to the optician. A friend at school used to do a similar thing, turned out he needed glasses for long sightedness.

[wigglesrock]

My 8 year old developed a slight facial tic a few months ago. She scrunched, then widened her eyes and made a very distinctive swallow. I took her to the opticians, she needed glasses. Has she been to the opticians recently? My dd has had her glasses for about 6 weeks, the facial tic has disappeared.

[ArabellaRockerfella]

Her eyes don't appear red or irritated, definitely no sign of infection.

[EveOnline2016]

Just take her to the doctors, yanvu to deny your child Heath care.

[HarveySchlumpfenburger]

Why would you not take her to a doctor?

[AliceInUnderpants]

Has she actually got dry eyes then, OP?

[GreatFuckability]

Tics are actually fairly common and often a developmental thing, but yes you should get her checked out.

[ArabellaRockerfella]

She doesn't say she has dry eyes, I am just wondering why she has developed this tic? Are tics medical/psycological?

[HelsBels3000]

I second the opticians - i get a twitchy eye from my astigmatism and need reminding to wear my glasses to take the pressure off the twitchy eye. It is due to the muscles having to work too hard on that side apparently.

[hellhasnofurylikeahungrywoman]

They are often psychological but they can be medical so I would want to rule that out. There are also therapies that can help to reduce the tic which she might want to explore it is affecting her life.

[mineofuselessinformation]

In the kindest possible way, I'm wondering why you wouldn't want to exclude a medical reason for it?

[nocoolnamesleft]

Assuming that it is a tic. Some of the other things that need ruling out are definitely medical.

[Gobbolino6]

I had a tic caused by anxiety that was very similar. I wish to God my parents had got me some help.

[exLtEveDallas]

DD developed a facial tic for a few months when she was 6 or 7. She would sort of grimace with her teeth clenched, then quickly open and close her mouth. We ignored it for a while, then saw boy in her class doing it during an assembly. DD was on this boys table in class.

She'd seen him do it, copied him to see what it felt like and it became a habit. She stopped doing it naturally after being moved up a table and not sitting with him all day.

We didn't take her to the docs and just ignored it rather than drawing attention to it. It was irritating while it lasted, but it didn't last long, thankfully.

[JuxtapositionRecords]

Why would you not?? She can't take herself! so it's your responsibility if something isn't quite right to get it checked out.

[ArabellaRockerfella]

I suppose mineofuselessinformation I don't want to be one of those time wasters who go to the doctor for silly things when it's hard enough for really sick people to get appointments when they need them. I guess I'm seeking reassurances from anyone whose child had a tic and then it went away. All my children have regular 6 monthly eye checks, would astigmatism have been picked up before?

[Corygal1]

I think tics are related to OCD. early intervention is really important if this is the case. Make an appt tomorrow.

[Banderchang]

I used to have a facial tic when I was about 8 or 9. I remember it got sorted by me having to try not to do it for 10 mins per day. My parents had to count how many times I'd done it in that ten minute period, then not bother about it for the rest of the day. Eventually, by trying not to do it for a small amount of time each day, it broke the habit. No idea how long it took though, as this is 30 years ago. I don't have ocd or anything as an adult, and have never had anything like it since.

[TheoriginalLEM]

Why on earth wouldn't you take her???? There is plenty of reasons for her to do this and unless you are a Dr yourself, then you should be going and pushing for a diagnosis. For the very least reason that she is going to get teased at school, especially if its a new thing.

[TheoriginalLEM]

"They are often psychological but they can be medical so I would want to rule that out" Psychological IS medical. Just more complex and difficult to get to the bottom of.

[SoThatHappened]

I am just wondering why she has developed this tic? Are tics medical/psycological?

Take her to her own GP...you think mumsnet will be able to diagnose her better?