Tics in school aged child

[Pinklilly123]

I'm wondering whether anyone has any experience with tics in a pre teen child? DS has had mild tics since he was 3 years old but lately he has a vocal tic, like a sucking in sound and it's quite noticable. He's started to worry about it to a point where I feel I should go and see the GP but have been trying not to draw his attention to it being a problem as focusing on it makes it worse. He has motor and vocal tics so my fear is tourettes. Kids can be so cruel and he's a sensitive little soul. Anyone have any experience of this and if so, did treatment help? Or wa sit even offered on the NHS?

Hi there; yes, my daughter has had tics since age 4 or so, rotated through several including vocal and motor. They used to get to me so badly that all I would do is google tics and cry; lately, I've been less bothered by it (because bigger things have taken over lol), but when she gets vocal ones all worries come back as I find those harder to cope with/worry that she will be teased. From my experience, GP's aren't that bothered and there isn't a whole lot that can be done outside of meds or behavioural therapy (which takes motivation but I hear is quite effective). I would say if he's worried about it, he might be a good candidate for behavioural therapy, where they teach you to reduce the tics? Just wanted to say I empathise, it sucks. I've had mild tics my whole life and it's honestly been no big deal; I never gave it a lot of thought til my daughter started to tic. But, I know they can come in all shapes and sizes and for me the hardest part is the unpredictability of it. What I can share is for a couple of years the very word "tourettes" scared the crap out of me, but it really is just a label for "multiple tics" and some of the fear re the word itself has disappeared, though my daughter fits the criteria. I've now reached a point where I'd tell people that's what it is, if they asked, and if she was ok with it, but I think it's easier to be at that point when the current tics aren't in my face/too obvious/"embarrassing." I think what helped is realising how many people probably fit the definition of tourettes and do nothing about it/have minimally impacted lives/don't even realise. Hope that helps at all; feel free to message me if you want to chat. x

My DD started with tics at about 5 or 6. Throat clearing, eye widening, mouth stretching, then words she would say randomly. I feared Tourettes and we had a consult when she was 9 with the community paediatric team, who diagnosed anxiety and offered meds, which we declined.

The more noticeable tics faded away, so by the time she started secondary school you wouldn’t notice unless you knew what to look for. She is 16 now and has some OCD type rituals, including knuckle cracking, but is a lovely, sociable, academically capable girl.

Thankyou both for your responses. It is reassuring to know we arent the only ones dealing with this. I do suspect he may have some anxiety issues. I am planning a trip to the GP to discuss as it is starting to play on his mind. Children learn skills much better than adults do so behavioural therapy might be better now rather that years down the road if it were to develop into a bigger issue. You're right the word tourettes is scary and a misconception of someone shouting swear words, sadly caused by the media, when in actual fact, as you say kitty, it's just a label for multiple tics. Time will tell how this develops I guess.

Hi @Pinklilly123
My 6yr old DS has tics, vocal and motor. His first tic came on for a couple of months when he turned 5. Then nothing till he turned 6 at the very end of last year. Since then, the predominant tic has been a vocal tic (a sort of grunt/burp/throat clear noise) and there have been other tics that come and go. So far, the tics wax and wane, sometimes in a single day and sometimes over days/weeks.
I'm afraid I've no advice to offer (other than I've been told by a paediatric neurologist not to draw attention to it) - I just wanted to let you know that I sympathise with you. It worries me hugely and it's a huge effort for me to keep a lid on my worries about it so that I can more or less function.
I myself have OCD and I'm aware that there appears to be a genetic connection between that and tourette's.

My DS had motor tics from around ages 6-9, he seemed to grow out of them. It was put down to anxiety at the time, he was also going through a period of school refusal and various other things. He's 17 and fine now, although I do wonder if he's (mildly) autistic.

eating my words about being less annoyed. We have sniffing at the moment and I want to tear my hair out.

Yes my son has Tourette’s and there are lots of medications that help particularly with the motor tics.

Hi, would anyone share an update on how their children are doing now? I think this may be the path we are on with my 6 year old son