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Hi all! First post here..

 

My almost eight year old started having tics about a year and half ago. A year ago we mentioned it at his checkup and his pediatrician said "Most kids outgrow it in a few months. We'll check back next year and see how's doing." Well, it's next year and the tics are worse than ever.

They are pretty minor mostly just facial tics, throat clearing, nose clearing, and lately a click and a whine that his teacher mentioned is a little distracting for a couple kids at his table and lip licking that is destroying his poor mouth. He's ticking nearly all the time. Every couple seconds he clicks. Even in his sleep sometimes.

 

I'm wanting to be prepared for his appointment but i'm a little overwhelmed with all the options.

 

He's been on and off of Kids Natural Calm for a year and i'm not really sure it's doing much. Because of the comment from his teacher and the "official" date coming up, I feel like I need to do a little more for him.

We got rid of artificial dyes a few months ago and we're on day 5 of a gluten and dairy free diet. What else should I be trying? Any more beneficial supplements? Diet changes?

What should I be asking for from the doctor? Allergy testing? Blood work? What else? What are the first steps in his process?

 

I'm pretty sure he has adhd as well. He does well in school but he's a handful at home. Constantly "on", always talking, pushing his brothers buttons, pushing MY buttons, making bad decisions and being a bad influence, not listening, all over the place. But that's a separate issue. Or is it?

 

I appreciate any responses and wish you all a great holiday season!

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I am in a very similar situation right now with my 9 year old son. I would recommend seeing a pediatric neurologist who specializes in tic disorders. It can take quite some time to get in as we are waiting for a February appointment in the Washington DC area. My son now has a vocal tic as well so I am preparing myself for a Tourette's diagnosis, but still hoping they are transient. Although as long as symptoms are present, I'm not sure what difference the actual diagnosis makes. Does your son seem distressed by these tics? Is he being teased by his peers? I have been experimenting with different things such as epsom salt baths, reduced electronics, fish oil and b complex vitamins to name a few with little results if any. Our pediatrician "diagnosed" him with Tourette's after a 15 minute office visit in which he never displayed his vocal tic and at the time was only presenting with an eye roll, after being tic free for over 6 months. This was distressing to my son as well as myself as our minds went to worst case scenario, so my main advice would be to see a good professional and let them decide on a diagnosis so you do not have to go through the agony that we are right now. Since the pediatrician visit 3 weeks ago my sons eye rolling stopped, but he has developed at least 4 new tics.

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I am in a very similar situation right now with my 9 year old son. I would recommend seeing a pediatric neurologist who specializes in tic disorders. It can take quite some time to get in as we are waiting for a February appointment in the Washington DC area. My son now has a vocal tic as well so I am preparing myself for a Tourette's diagnosis, but still hoping they are transient. Although as long as symptoms are present, I'm not sure what difference the actual diagnosis makes. Does your son seem distressed by these tics? Is he being teased by his peers? I have been experimenting with different things such as epsom salt baths, reduced electronics, fish oil and b complex vitamins to name a few with little results if any. Our pediatrician "diagnosed" him with Tourette's after a 15 minute office visit in which he never displayed his vocal tic and at the time was only presenting with an eye roll, after being tic free for over 6 months. This was distressing to my son as well as myself as our minds went to worst case scenario, so my main advice would be to see a good professional and let them decide on a diagnosis so you do not have to go through the agony that we are right now. Since the pediatrician visit 3 weeks ago my sons eye rolling stopped, but he has developed at least 4 new tics.

 

 

Good advice about seeing a specialist. I don't think he's teased.. yet. I've talked to his friends parents and they said he hadn't said anything about his tics. He recently changed teachers and I haven't talked with his new one to see if she sees them... I don't really know how to word that email. :( My sons tics change all the time. The one at the beginning of last year was one where he felt like he didn't have enough air. That was one of the worst. Most the other tics don't seem to bother him though.

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  • 1 month later...

Hi there,

 

Sounds like you're taking the right steps. Diet changes took about 2.5 months for us until they took effect. Check out our story here:http://latitudes.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=24731

 

Also, I would post a separate topic with the subject line being something like this, "Tics need help finding a good Dr in the (your city and state here) area". Environmental/hollistic physicians can be hard to find and they're the ones who know what tests to run. Someone here would probably know of someone in your area.

 

I'd also buy this book, Natural Treatments for Tics and Tourette's by Sheila Rodgers, the director of this blog and of ACN Latitudes in general. It covers every possible road imaginable that you guys could take. It's an easy read. It names each of the tests (and what they're all about) that can help identify triggers.

 

Best of luck.

 

 

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