Tics

[MummyIsMagic79]

Hello

Not sure if anyone can give me any help. Please be easy on me

My son is nine in May. He has, over the last few months, developed a few facial tics. They only seem to be apparent when he is either watching TV, going on the Kindle or if he's tired. They are wally worrying me and I just don't know what to do. I dread to think of it being picked up at school by his peers.

When I see it, or my DH does, we try and pick him up on it. But he gets so angry and just shouts, "I'm not DOING anything!!"
I've just videos him doing it, while he watched tv. When I showed him he thought it was hilarious. He literally rolled on the floor laughing.
What can I do??

If he is ticcing, he wont be able to help it so will have no idea he is doing it as it will just feel like blinking an eye, its involuntary movement. Many children have transient tics with disappear as they get older, but some like my DD continue tics into adulthood. By picking him up on it, you are asking him to stop something he cant help, and tics definitely worsen with stress and also are very suggestible, so if he sees video of himself, it may also make the tics worse, and he might be laughing as he is embarrassed.

School will have other children with tics as its quite common, and will be able to keep an eye on him and how other kids react . If they are pronounced, or making him uncomfortable (my DD gets a painful neck). Some find that magnesium supplements are helpful, but I would speak to the GP first. They may well disappear by themselves and the best thing is not to draw attention to them at this stage and try not to make him feel there is something wrong with him. My DD has quite pronounced tics and was told by a hospital to 'learn to love her tics?', as unless they are severe, medication is not generally used.

Hi hope someone can help my son was fine 2 weeks ago noticed a slight tic then 10 days ago this got worse took him to the doctors who suggested a referral to a neurologist but if he got worse to take him to the hospital. He did get worse that night so the next day I too him to the hospital where they admitted him to the hospital for a night blood tests done etc. he is now swearing he is frightened and has said he doesn't want to be here as he is not normal! The urgent referral done by the hospital has got us an appointment with a neurologist in June! I can't get any help or support till he has been to see the neurologist. My doctor is trying to speed this up. They won't do private consultations either! Help

Ignore it. There is no point telling him to stop - he can't. Or if he can suppress it for a while it will just build up until he cannot hold it in.
A tic is an 'un-voluntary' action.

Joc- sounds like a sudden onset of Tourettes although vocal and movement tics have to be present for over a year for a diagnosis.

A neurologist will certainly recognise it if it is though and advise whether to medicate if it's severe.

Hi thanks for your replies it looks like this has been caused by a strep bug it's called PANDAS