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5 year old with tics – Where do I go from here?


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My daughter (5) started exhibiting constant tics in September, when she began public school (pre-k). I’m new to this, and am doing more and more reading over time that make it clear there are other areas I need to investigate. . . . . that “wait and see” (per the neurologist) may not be the best approach here. But, I’m floundering on what to try next.

 

History: She had 2 previous episodes of tics after being ill with cold-like symptoms for a few days, and those tic episodes lasted approx. 3-4 months, when the tics went away completely on their own. Months passed between. The tics began again a week or two after she started school. They have been pretty constant since then, and continue to change, ranging from constant throat clearing (a popular one), gulping, squinting, eye rolling, deep breathing, etc. The severe eye rolling had me concerned that she might be having seizures, so I took her to a neurologist in the fall, who advised the tics are likely developmental. The EEG showed nothing unusual. I had her tested for a handful of environmental allergies (none were present), took her to an ENT (no obvious cause of tics), reduced gluten significantly (no noticeable change), did a run on zyrtec and also allegra (no noticeable change), and epsom salt foot soaks. A week and a half after introducing magnesium, she had a week or so with hardly any tics, but then they started back up (and evolved to deep breaths that involve body movement, and an opening and closing of her mouth). I bought a magnesium spray on Amazon and started using it 2 days ago to up the magnesium. I’ve also purchased dye and paraben-free hand soap, shower products, and laundry soap that I will be introducing shortly.

 

I don’t know what to do next for her. Is it meaningful that the tics waned for a period of time after introducing magnesium? If so, what does it mean? I see mention of blood testing for food allergies, L-carnitine, and other possible remedies, but I simply can't learn fast enough and invite any advice on whether there is an obvious next step from here. She has confided in me that she is being teased at school, and it is hurting her greatly, as well as affecting her self-esteem. I’ve mobilized the school to aim some of their resources at her, but we are just getting ramped up (a speech therapist, social worker, and psychologist will be involved).

 

I feel weighted down by all the reading and self-educating that must be done - it could be a full time job. In the meantime, my child is suffering. Any thoughts or suggestions on what to do (or other areas to read up on)?

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Hello and welcome,

 

You really have already done a lot to try to find what may be causing the tics!

 

Are you noticing anything else other than the tics that is different? Behaviors, habits, altered preferences etc etc?

You mentioned her being ill before the tics started, right? So that was the first time you noticed them? Has she ever had strep or any recurrent illnesses?

 

Is there any history of tics in your or her dad's family?

 

Have you noticed anything that seems to exacerbate the tics?

 

Sorry for the questions, but sometimes those are clues

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JoJoMama, We know what this is like, trying to figure things out--and we sympathize--but as Chemar said, you've done a lot, and should be commended!

 

Chemar's questions are good -- please see if you can find time to answers those, and then we will be able to have more discussion.

 

Is your daughter off all artificial colors, flavors and additives (like preservatives)?

 

While you are changing your home products, be sure that they are not just paraben-free, etc but that they are completely unscented. All products.

 

In addition to the possibility of an infection being involved, it would make sense to explore whether mold and/and chemical exposures could be involved, at school or at home.

 

We'll watch for a note back with more information from you. We're glad to have you on the Forums and will do our best to help. Hang in there.

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Thank you for responding.

 

There was no specific change in behavior when the tics started again in September. I have no idea if it is noteworthy that the start of this latest episode coincides with school starting. She’s a well-adjusted little girl, open to new experiences. I have wondered whether school could have been the catalyst, exposing her to too much stress and new viruses/bugs. But, if she is stressed (absent the teasing), she hides it from me. She has always gone to daycare and been away from home during the day, so attending school isn’t out of the realm of what she knows.

 

As a baby, she had chronic ear infections, but other than cold-like symptoms now and then, she has been pretty healthy. She had an ear infection in January – the first in years – which resulted in an increase in tics, but didn’t seem to last long. She received amoxicillin. Ped mentioned that the strep bacteria can be a big offender with ear infections. She has not had any special tests for strep.

 

I didn’t notice any tic-like behavior before the first episode of tics.

 

My husband does not recall any tics in his children from a prior marriage, although his ex says there were. His oldest son possibly had some as a young boy that was associated with a high temp seizure.

 

I have noticed an increase in her tics when: (1) she is tired, (2) in new environments that ask more of her (examples - a busy farmer’s market, or a birthday party with a lot of commotion), (3) playing games for longer periods of time on the ipad, and (4) when sick.

 

We have not cut out artificial colors, flavors and additives.

 

I have used some “free and clear” products at home on a regular basis, but not all. I also use essential oils occasionally (diffused), including cleaners. I have not noticed a connection between the oils and tics. I also have not diffused oils for several months now, but I do still use a Thieves cleaner occasionally. I will take a renewed look at household products. Should I cut out the Thieves cleaner too? What SHOULD I be cleaning with? Vinegar? Baking soda?

 

We found a mold testing kit at a local home improvement store that we will be buying. I live in a home built in 1942 in Michigan, though, with a basement. The results could be challenging.

 

Look forward to your additional thoughts!

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Hi JoJo Mama, Thanks for sending the additional information. A few thoughts --

 

1) It would be good to have her pediatrician find out if there is an underlying infection

2) Because she had chronic ear infections which were presumably treated with antibiotics at times, she could have an issue with candida and leaky gut -- a case of the antibiotics upsetting the flora in the digestive tract. Probiotics are recommended for everyone, but especially for people dealing with a leaky gut.

3) I would skip the Thieves cleaner (just because you can't know if it is aggravating things) and use an unscented cleaner from Seventh Generation.

4) If you are serious about wanting to avoid medication for tics, should remove all artificial flavors, colors and preservatives from her diet. I'm sure she has favorite foods, and you can substitute those with other items. For example use regular potato chips instead of ones with added artificial ingredients. Get used to reading labels. You should also reduce her sugars as much as possible.

 

Please make the dietary changes and see what happens. You may feel that she used to eat x, y, z without any problem and you don;t want to take things away from her-- but she is in a more sensitive situation now. Plus the additives are unhealthy for everyone. You need to be giving her a wholesome pure diet. Once you have cut the additives out, you can see if there might be other foods that bother her. But in any case, no artificial flavors and colors, and avoid preservatives. OK? :)

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  • 1 month later...

JoJoMama, Just letting you know your story is similar to mine. My son had tics (severe and disabling) that started at the start of school in 2nd grade. He had had some mild tics in the past but nothing that bothered him. It got so severe he could not go to school. I tried everything you did (and I was already feeding him all organic, dye free food) and nothing worked. We went on clonidine per our neurologist and after a month of wiggling with dosage he is almost tic free!!! And has been for over a year! Side effects are drowsiness for 2-3 hours after taking meds. Other than that zero side effects. I have my little boy back. So try the natural things first, but don't be scared of trying the meds. Some of them have serious side effects, true, but not all of them. Good luck and let us know how your daughter is doing.

Edited by Betzim
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Hi Betzim, It's good to read your note that your child responded well to Clonidine with only fatigue as an apparent side effect. It sounds like it really helped him.

 

As a rule we don't discourage medication use, though we don't focus on it on this Forum since there are so many other websites that do, and most parents hear conventional options from their physician.

 

One of the problems we have seen with TS medications is that unless a child has had a thorough medical evaluation that rules out chemical sensitivities or metabolic imbalances/immune issues, the child may be more likely to have negative responses to a drug that others may tolerate better.

 

Some of our readers have had significant negative reactions to TS drugs including Clonidine (potential side effects here. And here). Hypersensitive kids, as many TS kids are, may fall into the uncommon or rare reaction category more often that others.

 

Also, Clonidine has not been well tested for use in children, and this little boy is only 5 years old. So there is an incentive for the parent to try to find out what the underlying issues are in the event that they can be corrected.

 

That said, I'm genuinely happy for you that your child is doing so well. There is always a place for medications.

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