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AIBU?

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Original poster

Opening her eyes wide and blinking a lot

33 replies

Whodoigoto · 20/10/2022 21:41

My 4 year old started sort of stretching/opening her eyes wide a while ago every so often. I’ve noticed she now has started blinking lots, usually when watching tv etc, like a tic. Can anyone help and tell me what’s causing this? She also sometimes shouts out for no reason and when I ask her why she did it, she says she doesn’t know. Her meltdowns are increasing recently and she seems more angry/upset. Feeling scared now a little as I’m not sure what’s going on, is this a normal phase or should I take her to see someone?

OP posts:
anonymousproblem · 20/10/2022 21:44

Could it be a type of partial seizure? I had them growing up

jalopy · 20/10/2022 21:46

Sounds like tics.

ofwarren · 20/10/2022 21:47

Sounds like tics yes. See if you can catch any on film and take to your GP to confirm. My son does an eye twitch one while watching TV and the Dr said that's the most common time to do it in young kids

Yupbutnobut · 20/10/2022 21:50

Is this a genuine thread? I fail to see how you wouldn't immediately think oh this might be tourettes let's get onto the GP.

Ponoka7 · 20/10/2022 21:54

There's nothing to be scared of. It could be a number of things. Do you have a HV that you could contact? She might go through a checklist from birth. Or is she in Nursery, have they noticed anything? If she is on the spectrum/having tics etc then it's important to do needs led parenting and go with the flow until she's of an age were intervention clicks in. You might be lucky and if you go to the GP, they might start investigations now.

Original poster
Whodoigoto · 20/10/2022 21:55

@Yupbutnobut Of course it’s a genuine thread and something I’m upset/worried about. She’s 4 and only occasionally does the shouting thing recently so I have no idea if it’s just a 4 year old shouting out and being a 4 year old or what.
But thank you for your help.

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Ponoka7 · 20/10/2022 21:56

Yupbutnobut · 20/10/2022 21:50

Is this a genuine thread? I fail to see how you wouldn't immediately think oh this might be tourettes let's get onto the GP.

You think that every first time parent is totally aware of every type of additional needs etc? Besides from tics, blinking to sort of rest your vision is common for people on the spectrum. I'm in my 50's and still do it.

Original poster
Whodoigoto · 20/10/2022 21:57

@Ponoka7 She’s in pre school, they say she’s v active but that it’s her age and calms down at 5. Should I go to her regular doctor or a specialist Pediatric, not sure who to go to. I feel like it’s all come on in the last 6-7 months more and more, especially the last 3 months or so, it’s really worrying me

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Original poster
Whodoigoto · 20/10/2022 21:57

@Ponoka7 Do you think she’s autistic?

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Original poster
Whodoigoto · 20/10/2022 21:58

@Ponoka7 Whats needs led parenting and what age would intervention kick in?

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Original poster
Whodoigoto · 20/10/2022 21:59

@ofwarren Yes, have only noticed it when she’s watching tv, is it something to worry about?

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underneaththeash · 20/10/2022 21:59

Have her eyes checked first - it’s free. She may be just having issues seeing or binocular vision problems.

Greennetting · 20/10/2022 22:01

TBH if she is blinking a lot when watching the TV I would have thought the first stop would be the opticians, regardless of anything else, to rule out if she needs glasses

Opening your eyes wide allows more light in which narrows your pupils which brings things into focus like a pinhole camera. Blinking a lot is common if you are struggling to see

It could be something else but it makes sense to get the common, easy to resolve issues checked out first

Original poster
Whodoigoto · 20/10/2022 22:01

Where could I do a comprehensive testing-eyes, hearing, behaviour etc. Can all this be at the doctors?
Sorry, not familiar with it all, she’s barely even been ill before

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ofwarren · 20/10/2022 22:02

Whodoigoto · 20/10/2022 21:59

@ofwarren Yes, have only noticed it when she’s watching tv, is it something to worry about?

Not particularly. Lots of kids just grow out of it. My son hardly does it at all now, except when he's very tired.

Greennetting · 20/10/2022 22:04

Whodoigoto · 20/10/2022 22:01

Where could I do a comprehensive testing-eyes, hearing, behaviour etc. Can all this be at the doctors?
Sorry, not familiar with it all, she’s barely even been ill before

Opticians for the eye test, dont they check hearing at school any more?

Original poster
Whodoigoto · 20/10/2022 22:11

@Greennetting She’s at pre school, I’m not sure if they do it there

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PeppermintyPatty · 20/10/2022 22:11

honestly I’d just get her eyes tested to begin with. Although my sister did something similar as a child and she had some allergies. Do you have pets?

as for the shouting, my neurotypical 6yo randomly shouts occasionally. Might be nothing.

washingbasketqueen · 20/10/2022 22:11

I'd check her eyes first, but sometimes kids go through phases, especially if you call the behaviour out so they do it for attention. Try and ignore for a few weeks and see what happens. Otherwise if it continues I'd arrange to speak to a school and then it's GP.

Original poster
Whodoigoto · 20/10/2022 22:14

@washingbasketqueen I've not mentioned it to her, just noticed her doing it

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Original poster
Whodoigoto · 20/10/2022 22:15

@PeppermintyPatty We have a dog, but she’s been with her since birth and no issues.

Does he just shout out randomly? She says she needs to shout out. It’s not all the time, just noticed it more this week

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Viggooooh · 20/10/2022 22:15

My dd started doing this around age 7. I took her to the opticians and then she had a neurologist appointment. They said it was tics. It won't be classed as tourettes unless it's vocal and physical tics for over a year. My dd also had some minor vocal tics but we just ignored them all. They came and went for a few months but have completely stopped.

PinkButtercups · 20/10/2022 22:17

You need to get her eyes checked. My sister done similar at that age but would roll her eyes back to the point her teacher thought she was having fits. She still does it now at 31 they put it down to tics. DN (her son) also does the same. My DB also twitches his eyes a lot, again they put it down to tics.

My mum if she hears someone clear her throat does it too and won't stop.

I found the worse thing you can do is mention it to them. Makes them do it more.

doodlyfiddly · 20/10/2022 22:18

My DD, now 11, went through a number of tics when she was younger (all been gone for years). Apparently, they're quite common. We had the lip curling one, the nose twitching one etc.
She didn't ever have a vocal one.
When she was about 6 (?), we noticed her using her hands to open her eyes wide whilst watching tv. She would also quickly roll her eyes to the side so the pupils would completely disappear.
I was worried, of course, but we had her eyes checked and there was a very slight issue that she needed glasses for. Problem solved and she didn't do it any more.
I hope your DD's problem is as easily resolved. Please try not to worry too much. I remember asking my friend about the eye thing and she was like, 'oh, all of mine did that when they needed glasses'! Fingers crossed for you.

Original poster
Whodoigoto · 20/10/2022 22:18

@Viggooooh What did they do at the neurologist appointment?
What were the vocal tics and how long did they last?
I’ve read it’s quite common but usually 5 onwards, she’s only just turned 4. She’s angrier lately too and having more meltdowns, which I put down to being 4, I’m not sure, I keep worrying (but am a worrier) she just seems different to before

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