Stammering/Tourettes - advice please

[tanfastic]

Hi there
My 4.3 year old son has had a stammer on and off since he was two. I've neve been that worried about it because i've heard it's very common with this age group. It arrives, stays for a few weeks and then buggers off again for a few months.

However this time round he's had it for longer...at least a few months now and it's worse than ever. He's really struggling to get his words out. The last week we've also noticed he's doing thrusting movements with his arm when a word is stuck and also smacking his hands together and clenching his teeth and shouting until the word comes out. It's almost like he can't control it and i'm wondering if it's Tourettes type symptoms.

He has an assessment at Speech and Language Therapy on Thursday but i'm really worried.

He also has anger problems which we are trying to get a referral to CAHMS about through the health visitor which I think could be connected. He is a very complex little boy.

I feel so sorry for him.

Anyone got any experience of this - could Tourettes be seen at four?

Hi tanfastic I think you would benefit from a visit to the Special Needs Children board, it is just underneath Am I being unreasonable.

The board is full of really lovely people many of whom have very complex children. It is a very helpful and supportive place to be.

Maybe see you over there

Thank you, I will post over there.

DS had a stammer at about 3 and it has gone now.

yes it sounds like tourettes type symptoms but I believe tourettes must be apparant for a year to be considered a diagnosis. many, many children have funny tics and stammers which disappear.

hope things work out for him.