5 year old head shaking

[Taylia]

Posting here for traffic.

My 5 year old DD has started a habit of shaking her head every half a minute or so (sometimes more often) we thought it was that her fringe was too long so got it cut but she's still doing it. It's been a couple of weeks now.

We've asked her why and she's says it's something on her face but there's nothing there and I've even snipped some straggly hairs just in case.

She seems to screw her eyes up when she's doing it as well.

Alongside this she's also clearing her throat constantly, she's not had a cold since the start of December and doesn't sound croaky but is still doing it.

Anyone heard of this before?

Has she got an ear infection?

No, no signs of illness at all

does she have any other behaviour issues or anxiety /social difficulties/sensory processing issues?

Do you think it could be a tic?

And yes re sensory issues

I thought a tic.

Yes my partner has to Tourette's syndrome he clears his throat, coughs all the time and sniffs makes shoulder movements, head movements, ticking noice and a pig noises. The coughs has been around the longest but the tick noise (sounds like a car indicator) is the newest. He does it most when enthusiastic or stressed. Going to the gym has helped and so has diet. Hope this can help in some way

It does sound likely to be tics - both my dds have them and eye blinks/screwing up eyes and throat clearing seem to be fairly common ones. They tend to come and go.

It could also just be that she likes the sensation of it - a bit like when children love walking on a low wall. She might've doing but for no other reason other than the fun of the feel of it.

A friend of mine did this when we were 7or 8. It was a little tic she developed (that did originate from a long fringe). And she suddenly stopped doing it a few months later.

Thanks for replies.

No sensory/social issues. Well behaved if a little excitable especially when tired.

I am concerned it's a tic. I've read that they can disappear as fast as they appear. Hopefully that's the case.

I'd have her eyes tested, just to be sure they're OK.

My son started this at about the same age . Turned out he had torrette syndrome. Had lots of different tics . One was he would have to give the finger to all the teachers .! He was allowed to wear mittens in school for this reason. He is 15 now and almost all the tics have gone .

When my eldest son was about 4 or 5 he kept blinking all the time it went on for a few weeks I took him to the GP who very firmly (shouted) told him to stop. He said young children develope habits and they just need something to break it. He stopped the blinking a few months the later he began making a coughing sound all the time. I took him to doctor s again, he told him to stop and he did. No more habits developed after that.

What I am trying to say is try not to worry it could just be a habit and go as quick as it appeared.

I would get a neuro referral from the gp. But I'm sensitive about this at the moment

Sinus infections sometime feel like a weight/vice on your face. Nerve inflammation can feel like crawling sometimes. Get her to the GP so they can give her a complete work up.

Hey my son has recently developed same symptoms head shaking and screw his eyes up … Iam just crying and helpless … could you plz tell me how is your daughter now and what treatment u took for your daughter ! Plz reply this …. Your reply helps me a lot ! Thank you .

@Jhans , this is an old thread. You're much more likely to get replies if you start your own thread.