Facial tick in 12 yr old DS

[NancyJoan]

Just that, really. My 12 yr old DS has developed a very pronounced facial tick, pulling his head to one side.

it started over the Easter weekend when DH and I both had Covid, which he was very worried about, but went away after a few days. It’s now back, with no clear cause.

I don’t really know what I’m posting for. Advice? Sympathy?

I’m finding it extremely distressing, and feel desperate to fix it.

Is he in TikTok? There is a huge increase in teenagers presenting with ticks and it has been put down to a mass sociogenic illness so it could be that.

He’s not, but wow, how interesting.

Tics are super common. I had loads as a child that came and went (I have ADHD and they can be linked). I’m now a teacher and see children with tics that come and go all the time. They are usually completely harmless. Sometimes they become distressing for the child if they are repeatedly twinging a muscle or it is distracting their concentration, then accommodations can be made, muscle rubs can help or extra time in exams etc.

I think you need to stop with your distress and attempts to ‘fix’ DS. This attitude will make DS feel he has to embarrassed of his tic. Just treat him as normal and ignore it they usually pass - make school aware so they can monitor. If it becomes a problem then make a GP appointment but likely nothing will be done, even DC with frequent vocal and motor tics struggle to get any help from doctors.

Thanks. Extra time for exams is a good shout.

If I could just ‘stop with the distress’ I would. Watching (or feeling, if we’re sat together) his body tense up every 20 seconds or so is distressing. We’re ignoring it as much as is possible.

I know it's totally pedantic but you mean "tic", not "tick". At least I assume that a parastic arachnid is not causing his symptoms.

My DS has several tics all movement related none verbal and has done for years they get more pronounced in times of stress and when not engaged in something. The main thing that helped DS was sports the worst thing he can do is sit and watch TV when they become very regular and pronounced. The advice is to ignore but I know that this is really very difficult. Go to your GP, in my experience they are not much help but at least it provides some evidence if school request it for extra time in exams etc although hopefully he will have grown out if it by GCSE time.

My 7yo son recently started with the same tic OP. His dad had just died, a few days later it started.. its eased quite a bit in frequency but quite sure its stress related as he also developed tics during the first lockdown too, but had quite a few different ones. They eased once he was back at school. I've not acknowledged them to him so as not to cause more of s problem and asked other grown ups in his life to ignore too. Hopefully your sons will ease too.

Tics can be caused by magnesium deficiency - my daughter had an eye rolling tic, and a coughing/clearing throat tic but both disappeared after giving her magnesium supplements, which I learned about on here!

Care to elaborate on that illness sounds really interesting.

DS has tics and they come and go. Perfectly normal and children grow out of them.

My 9 year old develops ticks, they usually go after a few weeks and then he may develop something new. Throat clearing and "eeeeeee" sound are the most common, he is Asd diagnosed

@Bunce1

movementdisorders.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/mdc3.13316

www.psychologytoday.com/gb/blog/its-catching/202110/the-girls-who-caught-tourettes-tiktok

My youngest DS had tics from about 8 to 14. Pronounced when tired and stressed, involving noises and physical movements that varied over time. We talked about it and he said it was like an itch. He could resist it for so long but it required huge effort, was exhausting, and then he felt compelled to give in, like the way it's hard to resist scratching an itch. They did go of their own accord.

My ds has a facial tic that comes and goes. Usually when he’s under stress or at the end of term when he’s tired. Usually a sign he needs lots of down time. He hasn’t done it for a while but I think that’s because he’s now much more settled in secondary school.

We don’t draw attention to it just use it as a sign he needs calm, quiet and rest.

Thank you! We started on them yesterday. How long did it take to make a difference?

I’m so sorry for your loss. DS is a quiet, anxious little soul, he struggled with lockdown too.

Thanks, yes, def much worse when sitting in front of a screen. DS hates sports, but I will try and keep him busy.

I have ADHD and have always had tics. They really developed in my late teens and I’ve had them my whole adult life.

That being said they can also be anxiety/stress/stimulation thing. If you’re worried speak to the GP. But a tic isn’t something you can easily ‘fix’.

The worst thing you can do is tell him off for it or point out he’s doing it, he’ll become more conscious and do it more. Use it more as a tell for his moods. What is he upset about etc?

Hmmm...I would say that's a piss take put out by the MSN. I have read it but I really don't trust it.

My DD11 has developed the same tic as your DS. It started a couple of months ago and has become more pronounced of late. They're quite common in kids, my older ones also had random tics around the same age.

I had several as a child/ teenager. They come and go. I try not to think about them!