Is this a tic?

[patty]

My son has a tendency to use his shirt to wipe his mouth. Most times is just the outside of his month, but sometimes he uses his shirt to wipe around the inside of his months a couple of times.

 

If this is a tic, I don't want to discipline him. How can I tell between a tic and bad habit???

 

Also, since he is little, he hates his socks off. He only takes it off when he is taking a bath. He has gotton better over the years. He still sleep with his socks on, but he would take it off at the beach or while he is doing water play at home. I am wondering if he has some sensory issues. Is so, how should I help him. I really don't want to add other doctor appointment at this point.

 

Patty

[kim]

Patty,

 

I would bet the sock issue is sensory. It seems to be pretty common.

 

Some Mom's are elated on a day that their child keeps socks on! In their case, it's the socks themselves causing the sensory problem.

[Chemar]

Patty the socks on sounds sensory to me too.........possibly the pressure from the socks on his feet is comforting to him

 

There is a great book by Carol Stock Kranowitz called "The Out of Sync Child" that deals with Sensory Integration Dysfunction (SID)

 

re the wiping of his mouth..............hmmmmm.........when my son was younger he had an OCD where he HATED saliva in his mouth and was always going to the basin to spit it out or carried tissues so he could spit into it. Maybe what your son is doing is an OCD behaviour?

 

both SID and OCD are frequently found in conjunction with TS

[kim]

Good point about the pressure, Chemar.

 

Patty, does your son hug too hard, stomp when walking sometimes? My son would push his knee into the side of the car door, when riding.

[patty]

Patty the socks on sounds sensory to me too.........possibly the pressure from the socks on his feet is comforting to him

 

There is a great book by Carol Stock Kranowitz called "The Out of Sync Child" that deals with Sensory Integration Dysfunction (SID)

 

re the wiping of his mouth..............hmmmmm.........when my son was younger he had an OCD where he HATED saliva in his mouth and was always going to the basin to spit it out or carried tissues so he could spit into it. Maybe what your son is doing is an OCD behaviour?

 

both SID and OCD are frequently found in conjunction with TS

 

Chemar,

 

Does OCD comes and goes?

 

He started this shirt wiping habit probably at age 4. It lasted for about a year, off and on. Then it came back again, about 3 months after his tics happened. He usually does it when he is eating, but also while he is not eating. He used to tell me the roof of his mouth itches, so I thought it was allergy related. Now he tells me, he feels something there or he is not sure why he does it.

 

If it is OCD, what kind of supplement is helpful? I have been thinking about giving him calcium and magnesium. What is the appropriate dosage for a 61/2 year old about 50 pounds?

 

Thx!

 

patty

[Chemar]

Patty

yes, OCD can also wax and wane

 

for his age, probably the safest supplement to start him on for OCD is Inositol, one of the B vitamins

 

also, do note that artificial food dyes (the red, yellow, blue etc colouring) as well as artificial sweeteners like Nutrasweet/aspartame & Splenda/sucralose as well as MSG (monosodium glutamate) and other artificial food additives and preservatives are known to intensify OCD, as well as tics

 

my son has found that many of the things that trigger his tics, also trigger his OCD

 

Have you read Sheila's Tic Triggers article?

http://www.latitudes.org/articles/finding_triggers.htm

 

ps yes, starting on a calcium and magnesium supplement is good

[patty]

Patty

yes, OCD can also wax and wane

 

for his age, probably the safest supplement to start him on for OCD is Inositol, one of the B vitamins

 

also, do note that artificial food dyes (the red, yellow, blue etc colouring) as well as artificial sweeteners like Nutrasweet/aspartame & Splenda/sucralose as well as MSG (monosodium glutamate) and other artificial food additives and preservatives are known to intensify OCD, as well as tics

 

my son has found that many of the things that trigger his tics, also trigger his OCD

 

Have you read Sheila's Tic Triggers article?

http://www.latitudes.org/articles/finding_triggers.htm

 

ps yes, starting on a calcium and magnesium supplement is good

 

Chemar,

 

Interesting, OCD wax and wane just like tics....

 

I bought a chewable Rhino Calcium that has a calcium/magnesium ratio of 2:1. 250mg calcium carbonate and 125 mg magnesium oxide per 2 tablets. Is 2 tablets a day enough for medicinal effect?

 

The calcium supplement contains Natural Colors, does this mean is dye-free?

 

Also, I read somewhere that certain form of calcium is better absorb into the body. Is it CALCIUM CARBONATE?

 

Thx for your advice.

 

Patty