Verbal Tics - The Start

[CinnamonPretzel]

I'm not sure if this is a habit but our son (9yrs) for the last 9 weeks has been clearing his throat (when he doesn't have a cold or runny nose etc.) and into the 3rd week also added a fake yawn before doing it.

The throat clearing is there most of the day and I can't seem to pin a pattern to it but he doesn't have it when he sleeps or first wakes up.
Running seemed as though it increased it slightly but not significantly but then on other occasions makes no difference - although did at first think asthma but ruled out most symptoms with that!

It occurs between 2 minute intervals and 10 sometimes longer. Even though he did it briefly this morning, I haven't heard him in the last hour or so (he's busy playing in his bedroom so I might not hear him anyway, although can hear him talking with his toys).

He was diagnosed with High functioning Autism, Attention Deficit and Sensory Issues about 3 years ago and in school had the odd humming which he said he did to help drown out other stimulus so I don't want to associate that as a tic!

Has anyone else had a similar thing? Obviously worried that they won't subside and will get worse. Not sure what to do as websites say most kids grow out of it within a year and past a year its classed as Tourette's. I know a Dx won't make any difference but not knowing is a little unnerving!

Any advice appreciated.

Thanks CP

Oh and forgot to mention his aggressive outbursts are getting worse as he gets older but had put that down to the Autism and anxiety even though they are for small things.

Hi CP
DS (Yr 4) developed tics in Yr 1. They peaked in Yr3 - just awful and are "quiet" at the moment. I realised that the emergence of the tics actually made me feel really angry with him even though I knew he couldn't stop them or have any control over them at all. They were very upsetting as at their peak they looked so strange and were attracting attention/bullying and we were so worried for him. I realised that the anger (never shown to him) actually was just huge anxiety and sadness on my behalf.

The best and only way to deal with them in the young is ignore, ignore, ignore and make sure EVERYONE follows this. They wax and wane and it is very much a matter of learning to accept them but they upset me so much more than his ADHD which affects his life so much more. I found Tourettes Action incredibly helpful and they gave me a list of doctors they recommended. It took us a year to get the appointment but they were so amazingly helpful and said that when his tics came back they could work with him using habit reversal therapy or an alternative movement therapy. We have very occasional growly/humming breathing at the moment.

I am glad I pushed to get an appointment with the specialist, our CAMHS were dismissive and unhelpful about them. Try looking up TA - they were great.

My ds is 4.9. He was constantly throat clearing last winter when he was going through an anxious time. It disappeared when he became less anxious. I think it lasted a couple of months (possibly 3 months). He is at school now so I am worried about it coming back. I hope you get the support you need because it must be very worrying for you.

Thanks for your input MFB and tacal.

Surprisingly, yesterday he only did it twice: once when he came upstairs in the morning, after being up for about 3 hours and then again in the afternoon. He spent most of this time playing in his bedroom so I might have missed some. However, he did have two bouts of anger, one going into meltdown with a things being thrown all over the bedroom.

Today, he done it again this morning but currently nothing while he's playing. Although he sings and hums to himself which isn't random but I can hear a tongue type click (inside his mouth) which I'm not sure if its part of his tune.

I've been reading up on sites and it reminded my of when he started hitting himself recently at a family event when he was being chased. I grabbed him and he broke down in tears. I put that down to frustration and his autism (but he rarely hits himself) so now wonder if frustration from other kids can cause a tic outburst - but then would assume it would be more prolonged.

This is all new to me so just reaching out into the air and throwing thoughts out there to try and grasp a vague understanding.

I understand transient tics last approx three month, you can get chronic tics which generally last about a year or so, sometimes longer and then Tourette's is more than a year and generally involves both verbal and motor tics. But would him placing his hand near his mouth when he clears his throat be classed as motor or is that just him being polite because he knows you shouldn't cough without covering your mouth.

I suppose I should stop reading and just wait and see, but for me reading and throwing thoughts around is kind of calming in a way

I think it is good to read and throw around your thoughts. It sounds like you are finding out alot about tics. My ds's tics must have been transient as they have all come and gone quite quickly. This is an area I do not know much about but I am interested to learn more because my ds does at times have verbal tics and repetitive motor movements but I am the same as you about the movements,not knowing if any of them could be tics.

Ds has had the throat clearing, he did it every few seconds throughout the day. It lasted for a few months and im sure it is anxiety related. He has had many vocal and movement tics, stims or repetitive behaviour or whatever you want to call them over the years. All I would say either sensory or anxiety related or a combination of both.

We have throat clearing but it is very much associated with perennial allergic rhinitus and, in particular, post-nasal drip, both of which can be quite hidden from adult view.
There was/is a psychological element to it too though.

Update - we've established that they are definitely tics and are more prominent with anxiety or change in things. Gaming (consoles) is a big trigger so we have had to decrease his time which has improved the tics dramatically. Tics and gaming is apparently quite common although the exact reason unknown but believed to be a chemical trigger in the brain which affects the connections - if I read it right

Thanks for the update. My son has a tic but it's pouting / silent sniff. He loves all electronic gadgets and generally they seem to bring out the worse in both him and his nt brother. Shame they smashed my laptop screen.... Damn shame.... ( bloody thing!!)

Hiya I'm taking my dd age 6 to the drs tonight because I think she has developed tics too. It started in June with rapid eye blinking that I initially thought was quite cute until it became accompanied by a gross snorting noise every 2 minutes. The snorting changed to a huffing noise and this week it seems to be a throat clearing type noise. The eye blinking comes and goes but mainly when she is nervous or put on the spot. School have noticed it too, she has had a little bit of upset when other children have basically told her to shut up!
She too is worse when watching tv or sat with the I pad. I don't know what the dr can do, if anything, but I kind of want it on record if it does carry on. Dd has no other diagnoses apart from hyper mobility and hypotonia although we have lot of sensory issues with her and she has a terrible temper on her but camhs didn't want to see her because she didn't score highly enough on the asd questionnaires so never got any further. I'll update after the drs tonight.

How did you get on Mckenngp1?

I think you can be referred to a neurologist but they might not do anything until a certain number of months due to it being quite common in children. More often than not they outgrow it within 3 months to a year!

Was a waste of time tbh. Dr said to go back next year if tics still apparent/get worse. She basically said that treatments both medication and behaviour modification were not really worthwhile and she would just grow out of them. What was I supposed to do? Just ignore the fact that dd has started ticcing?
Thanks for asking though x

Anyone had answers? I know this is ancient but purposefully chasing up to see what happened. Hope everyone is well and that these issues are a long distant memory or a minor part of a happy life :)

Any update on what happened following on from the original post please?
My 6 year old daughter has been throat clearing for around 3 months. They’ve tried asthma nasel spray for allergies and also reflux meds.... calmed for a bit but now it’s back and joined with a humming sound, so I’m pretty sure it’s tic’s.
I’m going out of my mind with worry, an update would be really useful. Many thanks

Not the original poster, but DS (9) has had tics off and on since about Y1 (or perhaps earlier). At the moment he doesn't have any, but they always seem to go away after a few months (sometimes about 4 months). We've had throat clearing, shrugging, repetitive words, and others. They seem to correspond with growth spurts. I would say that although they seem strange, they are surprisingly common and usually nothing to worry about.

Thanks for your reply.
The throat clearing has been going on for 5 months, not 3. Did you ever get medical reasons ruled out before thinking it was a tic at the beginning? She’s on a waiting list for a reflux specialist and whilst I do think it’s tics now, it worries me to think it will be medical and I miss it. Food definitely makes the throat clearing increase.