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6 year old facial tic - involuntary facial expression

3 replies

mamatothreebunnies · 28/04/2023 13:01

Hello. Does anyone have any insight or advice on how to deal with a child who appears to have a facial tic. My 6 year old makes consistent involuntary facial movements, it originally started when she was 4 and she kept blinking and squeezing her eyes so we got her eye sight checked and was all fine. Then she started scrunching her nose in addition to the eye thing. So I got her seen by an ENT specialist who said all fine and is such a habitual tic and it will pass. Now she has started doing this thing with her lips where she looks like she’s frowning her lips. Again in addition to the previous 2 tics. They’re quite consistent like every minute or so.

Up to this point I have not made any comments to her about it, being sensitive not to draw attention to it or make her self conscience. However since it’s got so much worse in the last week I feel like I have to intervene in some way. The new lip thing came in quite suddenly after she became unwell from a chest infection. I have no idea if related or not.

anyway I’m at lost as to what I’m meant to do or who to see. Does anyone have any recommendations if doctors or specialists in London that I can have her seen?

I understand that if it’s a tic that nothing can be done except time and she will grow out of it. But I don’t feel easy in sitting back and not having a professional seeing her.

OP posts:
SiouxsieSiouxStiletto · 29/04/2023 19:00

I've not got experience of tics, hopefully someone will be along soon who can help.

I think I'd be tempted to talk to her Teacher and ask if she's doing it at school, if they have any concerns about her behaviour and how she is socially at school?

mamatothreebunnies · 30/04/2023 21:00

@SiouxsieSiouxStiletto She def does it at school because I’ve seen her at school shows etc. like I said I haven’t wanted to draw attention to it until now so haven’t spoken to teachers yet.

i was told she’s very quiet at school (and has been since sept) during last parents evening. Very unlike her as she’s loud and confident as can be at home. Annoyed me that they waited until April to tell me that.

OP posts:
SiouxsieSiouxStiletto · 01/05/2023 11:34

Does she need to know that you are talking to the Teacher?

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