DD's stimming -- can anyone recommend a specialist?

[thepeopleversuswork]

DD (nearly 11) has been prone to stims and compulsive behaviour on and off through her life: she's been through several phases with these.

Her current one, which has lasted about six months, is a sort of compulsive need to jerk her head and neck, sometimes accompanied by blinking. Prior to this she's had blinking, whistling and verbal stims. I think this current bout was triggered largely by the death of her grandfather as it came on shortly after his funeral.

I'm not overly concerned about them because they've happened in the past and I know they pass. But I would quite like to get some support as I think they could be difficult for her as she goes into puberty. It's obviously something she has a natural disposition towards and I think it would be helpful if she had some self-support mechanisms. I'd also like to rule out the possibility any other issues. I've heard stims often correlate with autism: I haven't seen any other behaviour in her suggestive of autism but good to get it checked.

I know there's absolutely no point trying to get this dealt with on the NHS at present - it takes a week just to get an appointment at my GPs and a referral would take years. Can anyone recommend a specialist doctor or clinic who might be able to help?

Watching as my DS age 11 has similar.

You’re probably more likely to get recommendations if you say roughly where you are in the country.

@Lancssss

You’re probably more likely to get recommendations if you say roughly where you are in the country.

London

What does she think about them. You cant really stop tics or stims in my experience but she might learn to control them a bit more, although unless she has another outlet thats not always ideal either as its a self regulatory behaviour

We saw Dr Gautam Ambegaonkar at the Cambridge Spire for DD's (13) tics - she was diagnosed with chronic tic disorder (borderline Tourette's but collectively decided to err the side of caution). He was very thorough and fantastic in communicating with DD. He explained that it would wax and wane throughout life dependent on age and stress levels, and also suggested having an ADHD assessment as they were often comorbid (she was already mid-assessment anyway, so it made perfect sense) - which she has now also been diagnosed with.

Oh - and she's also seeing a counsellor/therapist with experience in tic disorders who is helping DD with techniques to help calm them (amongst other things).

The Child and Family Practice in Wimpole Street are excellent:

tcfp.org.uk/our-team/

@Branleuse

What does she think about them. You cant really stop tics or stims in my experience but she might learn to control them a bit more, although unless she has another outlet thats not always ideal either as its a self regulatory behaviour

She's aware of them and is quite matter of fact about it. Recognises its compulsive, finds it mildly frustrating but is apparently not very distressed by it.

I've talked to her teachers about it and its apparently much less noticeable at school so she has a degree of control over it - thus I don't really count it as a tic as such. I think its a comfort thing.

@inigomontoyahwillcox

We saw Dr Gautam Ambegaonkar at the Cambridge Spire for DD's (13) tics - she was diagnosed with chronic tic disorder (borderline Tourette's but collectively decided to err the side of caution). He was very thorough and fantastic in communicating with DD. He explained that it would wax and wane throughout life dependent on age and stress levels, and also suggested having an ADHD assessment as they were often comorbid (she was already mid-assessment anyway, so it made perfect sense) - which she has now also been diagnosed with.

Thank you! that's really helpful. I don't think these are tics as she has some degree of control over it.

[quote chesirecat99]The Child and Family Practice in Wimpole Street are excellent:

tcfp.org.uk/our-team/[/quote]
Thank you!

i think maybe just leave it unless she wants to do something about it. If its not distressing her and she is able to manage it at school, then let her do it at home if she needs to