Hi to you both.....I just wanted to say that yes, for us at least it has got better. My son is now 14. He started with eye blinking at about the age 5 and moved on from there. His were always 'simple' tics and largely vocal - squeaks, throat clearing etc. He did also go through some shoulder jerking, as well but otherwise his physical tics were largely blinking, nose 'scrunging', lip licking etc....I will be honest and say I tried most things - diet, hypnosis, allergy treatments etc. Spent hundreds of dollars on being purely organic, supplements and so on.....Regardless they were just there. Constant rather than waxing and waning but largely never completely obvious. In the end we spent yet more money we didn't have on CBIT therapy and it made a pretty big difference. I think it was the first time he felt he had any control over himself....
Jumping forward a bit, in the last couple of years they have calmed down a lot - in particular in the last 6-9 months. During that time he has got braces. I was convinced this would make things worse but they didn't seem to make a difference. I am hoping he is just starting to grow out of them a bit! If I see facial tics I give him magnesium and we avoid strawberries as they always seem to trigger them. Thank goodness he is funny, happy and popular. I really think that in the midst of all the chaos and worry, it is so important to keep them confident and try and keep self esteem going. I am still tense if I see or hear anything but I have learned that he will tell me if things are bothering him....
This is just our story and yours may be different. I just remember my state -5 or 6 yrs ago when I would search this site for some hope! I just wanted to share that there may well be. I hope this helps a bit ...Hang on in there!xxx