Everything in the mouth suddenly? Tourette's related?

[mrsbaffled]

My DS was dx with TS at Easter. He is 5.5. He has started putting lots of things in his mouth and sucking his clothes. His tops are getting all wet on the sleeves and round the neck.

His brother has a lot if sensory problems, but DS hasn't appeared to have any til now. Is this sensory? Or a new tic?

His facial tics have diminished a lot recently and he is not ticcing his shoulders any more, so perhaps this is taking its place? A few weeks ago he was ticcing blowing bubbles and playing with spit in his mouth.

I dont know much about tics sorry but my Dd3 is terrible for putting things in her mouth. She has a dx of Asd, she definitely has sensory issues.

She is much worse when she is stressed, is your ds stressed about anything at the moment?

No, not particularly. This week is very busy, but it started during a quiet period. It is odd to come out of nowhere.

Hmm, I guess it could be related to his TS. It is very complex and does have overlaps with other conditions.

Maybe if it started at a quiet time it could be sensory seeking.

I have just bought Dd3 some babywearing jewellry to try to stop her eating her clothes, our cushions and the tv remote!!

I used to do it too, apparently, but it was a long term thing. I remember liking the feeling of fabric in my mouth.

I find that Bee's oral issues tend to increase when her stomach is upset, too - any chance he could be experiencing reflux or nausea?

I hadn't noticed any tummy issues. Good thought, though x

Any other thoughts?

You can get that kind of tic in Tourette's, my daughter who's older does it sometimes. It's one to watch, as they can put dangerous things in- I've heard of sufferers trying to force toothbrushes down their throat.

Last bit isn't meant to scare you- is just what I've heard. When my children's tics are potentially harmful to them I'm careful not to say anything that gives them new ideas.

They've both been through a phase of pushing their fingers near their eyes - so I just say 'take your hands down' - rather than 'stop poking your eyes''.

Sorry you have to cope with this. Tourette's is very difficult to have or live with

Rose thank you, that's a very useful post. I have noticed him putting other things near his mouth like pen lids and legos. I will think carefully how to deal with it.

It is weird though as it doesn't look like you would imagine a tic. His facial tics are so mild at the moment people think I am crazy saying he has TS, but his shirts are soaked through :(

It could also be a compulsion.
Have you read much about Tourettes? There's a lot of books available - both from trying to understand the features of the illness medically, and to understand what it's like to have the illness (books by sufferers

To get back to the point- Tourettes is diagnosed by the presence of multiple motor & vocal tics. But the illness can also have ADHD features, Obsessional Compulsive behaviours, and anxiety. My DS has the latter two- he over thinks things a lot. If he does something slightly wrong he dwells and dwells on it & feels a complete failure. To other people he's so clever at everything they never see the turmoil he's often in

Unfortunately very few people do understand Tourettes. Even medically trained people don't always understand. I've coped by educating myself and realising just to be grateful when people do understand anything about it. Tourette's is a complex illness, but my two seem to be doing ok. It's important to find the things they do enjoy (sport/ music etc) because those things can give respite from the illness.

My 4 year old has a diagnosis of ASD and is always putting things in his mouth. He also grinds his teeth, so I know he has sensory issues around his mouth.

Yes, I suppose it could be a compulsion. Good thought. I have read a fair bit about the tic side of things, but little on OCD. He definitely has tendencies. I need to research it more.

Thanks x

pls google PICA

He hasn't swallowed anything yet, just sucking and removing.