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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

6 year old constantly...

21 replies

timesareachanging · 03/08/2020 13:01

clearing his throat.

For a past few weeks he’s started clearing his throat all the time. It ranges from coughing to just making a weird noise. I’ve noticed it and my husband has noticed it.

He won’t/can’t stop doing it 🙈

He had his tonsils and adenoids removed when he was 3 so these can’t be the issue.

Is it a nervous thing? I’m at my wits end listening to him.

OP posts:
whattododo · 03/08/2020 13:03

Ignore it...don't draw attention to it anyway that's the first rule!

Mumoblue · 03/08/2020 13:04

It may be a nervous thing. I'd keep an eye on it, and maybe talk over the phone to a GP.

My nephew does this as a vocal tic, as he has tourette's. I wouldn't jump immediately to that though, as I'm sure it could be many other things.

Aquamarine1029 · 03/08/2020 13:04

Has he been tested for allergies?

Original poster
timesareachanging · 03/08/2020 13:04

@whattododo he’s back to school next week and I’m worried the teacher or other kids are pissed off listening to it

OP posts:
Original poster
timesareachanging · 03/08/2020 13:06

@Mumoblue no vocal tic just clearing his throat.

@Aquamarine1029 no, that’s something I haven’t thought of. Would it be like a nasal drip in the back of his throat?

OP posts:
Aquamarine1029 · 03/08/2020 13:07

Would it be like a nasal drip in the back of his throat?

It may very well be. Allergies can cause intense throat discomfort/itchiness.

lakesidesummer · 03/08/2020 13:08

Clearing his throat could be a vocal tic.
DS has a range of tics and one of them is a little dry throat clearing cough.

It obviously could also be a physically irritated throat.

Twigletfairy · 03/08/2020 13:09

Not asthmatic is he?

I'm asthmatic and I start unconsciously doing that when I start getting mucous build up in my throat. I also do it when I get acid reflux

BeBraveAndBeKind · 03/08/2020 13:12

My son was doing this and it was acid reflux.

MaraScottie · 03/08/2020 13:13

My son does this and he also has some other small motor tics. My husband does it too. Fills me with rage!

Ignore it for now, it will likely stop or improve in a few weeks.

Doje · 03/08/2020 13:20

My DS was doing this a couple of months ago. It was after a loooong period with a cough. It was just after I started to worry it was becoming 'a thing' that it stopped.

Give it a bit longer, then maybe GP if you're still worried.

SteelyPanther · 03/08/2020 13:23

My son did this and it was asthma.
He never had an attack, it was just this constant throat clearing that drive us to distraction.
A steroid inhaler sorted it.

recededpronunciation · 03/08/2020 13:27

Allergies or cough variant asthma? My daughter does this and she suffers from hay fever that causes a post nasal drip so constantly throat clearing. Also does it more when her asthma is bad.

zingally · 03/08/2020 13:57

I tutor a little boy who also does this (also 6! hope it's not the same kid!), and yes, it's fairly irritating.
I did ask him about it once, and he just said "I just feel like I have something in my throat". I saw him today, and were taking turns to read. And whenever it was my turn to read, and he was listening, he was clearing his throat almost constantly.
I haven't raise it with his parents, because I figure they already know, and I'm just a teacher, not a medical professional!

All that being said, I am also a throat-clearer, but only in the mornings! For about an hour after getting up, my throat feels very congested and I HAVE to clear it. Been like that as long as I can remember - it used to drive my dad bonkers!
But after an hour or so, it settles down for the rest of the day.

I am also asthmatic (but manage it well enough without medication these days). I never considered that the two things might be linked though... interesting!

GiantPinesAhem · 03/08/2020 13:58

Could be reflux!

Original poster
timesareachanging · 03/08/2020 14:18

@MaraScottie thanks for saying it drives you nuts! Me too! I was worried I’d get flamed for saying it.

I’m definitely going to keep a close eye on it and take him to GP if he continues. He’s not had a cough in a very long time and with COVID going about I’d have made sure he’d been tested if he had a cough.

I did wonder if the lack of tonsils and adenoids has something to do with it.

OP posts:
welcometohell · 03/08/2020 14:42

It could be a tic. Throat clearing is a pretty common one. Most kids who have tics grow out of them as they get older, it doesn't necessarily mean Tourettes.

Clearyweary · 03/08/2020 14:45

My DD used to do this a lot, its a bit better now but still there sometimes. GP thinks its an allergy, possibly hayfever. We tried piriton, which made a difference but made my DD too sleepy during the day so we stoppes it.

It flares up sometimes and seems to be worse when the pollen count it high, so I do genuinely think it is a symptom of mild hayfever.

We also had cough variant asthma ruled out by the GP.

Feralkidsatthecampsite · 03/08/2020 14:46

Try a dose of Piriton daily for a week. See if there is improvement.. Ds5 gets hay fever and itchy throat..

Newuser82 · 03/08/2020 14:46

My son did a similar thing as well as Constant sniffing. I was convinced it was the start of Tourette’s ! Took him to gp, it’s actually an allergy that he gets at the same time each year. Gets a nasal spray for a few weeks and is right as rain again.

Alwaysinpain · 03/08/2020 14:51

My child does this. The child psychologist says it's part of their autism.

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