Any experience with childhood tics? Need help!

[njshep]

My 9 year old son has recently (within last month or so) begun constantly flicking his head back almost as though he needs get hair out his face. We first thought it became a bad habit after he had his hair longer throughout covid and he needed to do it to get it out of his face but now his hair is short and it continues. He does this several times within a span of 10 minutes and I feel like it has recently gotten worse.
We brought him into a dr who is going to run a neck X-ray but also suggested it might be a tic.
I am worried sick. He is a well adjusted, happy and super athletic child and the thought of him struggling with this is so upsetting. It really started to amplify when the kids here ( I live in Canada) had to roll back to remote learning in early April as the covid situation started becoming serious again.
Does anyone have any experience with childhood tics they can share? It is so prevalent right now I can’t see how this might disappear.
Very stressed.
Any help or insight would be appreciated.

[tinygigolo]

My DD(6) developed a tic in the week leading up to schools returning on 8 March. She found going back to school quite stressful. Our GP was really good, performed lots of tests to rule out anything neurological and were happy it was a tic. We have monthly update calls with them. Apparently tics have become really common in kids due to covid disruption.
In the meantime it has got lots better when she's settled back into school to the point that now, after returning from the Easter holidays, it is barely noticeable.
I was really stressed when it first appeared but quickly it has just become a normal way of expressing herself - she isn't upset by it and I'm not either anymore :)

Hope it clears up for him soon

[ofwarren]

My now 18 year-old developed a tic where he would twitch and blink. It lasted around 8 months and then went away.
He occasionally does it now if he's really stressed.

[Charrin10]

My son developed a very similar tic whilst being home schooled. But the more we drew attention to it the more he did it. If he was focused on something he wouldn't do it but if he was slightly excited or playing on electronics he would do it more. As soon as he went back to school it went away.

The best thing you can do (other than rule out anything else) is to ignore it as bringing focus to it will make it worse. I know it's easier said than done though!