Pls help identify cause of vocal tic

[patty]

I need your help in identifying my son's vocal tics trigger. I have a theory that his tics have a psychological component to it. And I would like your opinion on this.

 

As some of you already know, my son started an acute case of head nodding tic about 6 months ago, and about 3 weeks later, started vocal tic and it has changed a few times. Since our last chiropractic adjustment 2 weeks ago, I hardly notice any more motor tics, other than a few facial tics, but the vocal tic remained and seems to gradually decrease. And the vocal tic happens mostly while eating. Sometimes I would hear the vocal tics 2/3x while playing, doing homework or excited.

 

When he first started with the head nodding tic and vocal tic, he was doing it all day. The most noticeable times were when: he is eating, watching TV, reading to him, doing homework and at night.

 

When my son was a baby, he wheezed everytime he caught a cold, and was diagnosed asthma when he was 5. When he turned 4, that's when he grew into his environmental allergies. He had a blood test and scratch test done and confirmed that he has both food and envronmental allergies, the big ones are: wheat, dairy, peanut, mold, pollen, weed...

 

Because my son's wheezing problem, he was put on a restricted diet (we follow the chinese medicine theory). He did not eat much wheat & diary, no cold or frozen food, ate little fried & greasy food, .... My son is one of those few kids who truely enjoy eating and have a lot of interest in food. My son would tell me what he wants to eat for the day and if he likes something he ate, he would ask where I bought it or how i make it. Because of his allergies and asthma, I have alway stressed the importance of eating healthy so he is very aware of what he is able to eat or not to eat. There were times when he didn't feel well, he would self-diagnose and try to identify the food that he thinks that made him sick.

 

My son also had some speech problems. He started talking about 3, and had trouble with certain sounds and had trouble putting a sentence together. So he was in speech therapy for about 8 months before starting kindergarten.

 

In addition, my son had some coodinating issues ( like throwing a ball, catching a ball, climbing, jumping... )and had trouble with his fine motor skill ( he had trouble writing, holding a pencil, coloring...). So we spend a lot of time at the park to improve his coordination and i pushed him to learn to write the summer before kindergarten. I am ashamed to admit this, but there were times i got angry with him because I was frustrated with the way he was holding the pencil, with his writing and speech. I am sure he was stressed out. But I did not realized he was stressed out at the time.

 

The first time he had vocal tics, it was pretty much all day sparadically, but mostly while eating, watching TV, reading to him, doing homework and at night. The first episode of vocal tics lasted about 2 1/2 months. It stopped for about 2 months and came back while we were treating butter (NAET) this summer. This time the vocal tics happens mostly while eating. Sometimes i would hear 2/3x of vocal, while doing homework or while playing or getting excited.

 

I seems to me, his tics has alot to do with his inner tension. And more tics at times when my son feels most stress out, like eating, doing homework.... Because the returned of his vocal tics happens mostly while eating and he is very aware of his diet restriction, I am tempted to take him off the restricted diet and let him eat whatever he wants. However, I am afraid that may trigger more tics. It is a catch 22 and I am at a loss!!

 

Any advise from anyone is appreciated!! I am also trying to eliminate articifical flavor & coloring as it has neurological effect. One more thing to add to the diet restriction. I have not told my son about avoiding artifical flavor & coloring, so it has been hard not allowing a certain candy or food with him. I am afraid if i tell him, he may get stressed out subconsciencely.

 

Is inner tension a cause for TS?I am wondering if my son has TS or TIC?The last 2 times he got sick (cold), he did not experience more tics. If he has TS, does the illness cause more tics?

 

I still have so many questions....

 

Thx for reading my post and giving me your suggestion.

 

Patty

[Chemar]

Hi Patty

 

stress, whether internal tension or external pressure or whatever.....stress is probably the biggest tic trigger.

 

 

something I do want to try to encourage you and other parents whose children do in fact have TS about.......where we can do an enormous amount to help to reduce their tics and improve things for them....people who have Tourette Syndrome tic. That is a fact. And the tics come and go and change in the characteristic waxing and waning that defines TS motor and vocal tics. Now, that doesnt mean that we stop trying to identify triggers and doing what we can to avoid them and to optimize our children's health and diet and environment etcetc..........but for me it means I dont get mega stressed out myself when a tic appears and I cant pinpoint a finite trigger. Things clearly happen internally for people with TS and their are underlying bichemical issues at play and we dont understand nearly enough about it to always be able to identify the trigger

 

My advice is to keep pursuing what works, get that diet cleared out of artificial junk because that most definitely IS a tic trigger and help your son focus on things that make him happy and relaxed. If he has TS, yes, there will be times when he tics and yes, the tics will come and go. And yes, your hard work in optimizing things will help them go quicker and also hopefully keep them mild and non-debilitating

But you are not necessarily always going to find the answer to what is causing each tic........and it will stress you out big time sometimes to be frustrated in trying. At those times just step back and look at things in a different perspective. Often it is that release that helps us to see clearly and we get our answers. Sometimes the trigger remains that elusive internal mechanism. Sometimes in our obsession to find triggers for each tic, we unwittingly become the source of stress for our children. They dont want to feel that they are continuously under a microscope. They just want to be themselves, tics or no tics. It is a lesson I learned the hard way. Do what I can to make things better, but dont fret when I cant. Because that had a more negative effect on my son than the tics!

 

I stress again, I am not suggesting that you stop the search for triggers and the good work of improving things.....just that, if you are parenting a child with true Tourette Syndrome, there is also going to have to be a level of acceptance that people with TS tic.

[quan_daniel]

Patty,

That pretty much sums up what my son was/is doing now.

The throat thing does not bother me.

I know it is sensitivity and especially after cold/flu/allergy.

 

Lemon water helps but otherwise let him be.

 

We have talked continuously about ghosts or stuffs that scare him. He is improving and as a result of that

his waxing a very infrequent.

 

We also encourage him to be in a crowd of people. We tell him people don't bite.

 

Kids that are highly sensitive need a lot of space. He gets shy about people looking at him.

 

He is learning.

 

Most of all enjoy your kids, they are precious no matter what.

 

That love alone is worth more than any supplement.

 

Most kids are afraid that their parents don't except their tics.

 

We parents keep on picking on their tics like cold sores.

 

Encourage the kids as much as possible and hope for the best.

 

Most of us in this board just afraid the tics that can heard the kids.

[patty]

Thx Chemar & Daniel for your words of widom.

 

As of parent, I get caught up in finding a cure for my son. I just want him to grow up happy, healthy and just like everyone else. It pains me to see him suffer. I am thankful that this whole tic problem is subsiding and it has not effected him too much other than the constant various office visits. Now, we are just down to once a month chiropractic.

 

Since my son's tic, I have reexamined my life, my marriage and how I raise and see my kids. As a result, I am a better parent for it. I am more accepting, understanding, forgiving, encouraging and patient.

 

I believe that everything happens for a reason and my son's sudden onset of acute motor tic is a desperate cry for help. I think my son is too young to tell me that he is stress out so his body is doing the talking for him. If his tic were less obvious, it may not have affected me the way it did. So in that respect, I am thankful. I am thankful that I finally see my kids for who they really are!!

 

BTW, his motor is gone with a few & unnoticeable facial tic and his vocal is getting less gradually. I am wondering if all the things we have been doing is finally coming together?!

 

We did NAET in the summer and treated for wheat & dairy. In August, we started eating mostly organic food, eat less food combination (simple food, 2 to 4 items at a time), eat food with as little ingredients as possible, got rid of toxin cleaners and started to used organic soap and natural cleaners, and use a air purifier. Of course, plenty of excercise. Also, I recently restarted him on 250mg & 150mg of calcium and magnesium supplement a day because I notice his muscle on the shoulder and back is very stiff, although he had never complained about pain or stiffness before.

 

Patty

[patty]

Forgot to also mention, we have been avoiding yeast, artificial coloring & flavoring, perservatives, corn syrup and MSG. We also use non flouride toothpaste. Stop using nonstick cookware and switch to stainless steel and sometimes cast iron. We now use glass, ceramic and stoneware dishes for about 2 months.

 

Patty

[Claire]

Patty,

 

It is hard for me to read about the fact that his vocal tic kicks up during TV without commenting on the flicker/screen trigger. I assume you have a CRT screen? Do you have an LCD monitor to let him watch some DVD movies (on computer) from across the room to see whether there is improvement? Not as effective as no screens for a week, but it may be worth a shot.

 

Congrats on his improvement. Tics can be such an indicator of underlying issues that it is always worth parental diligence to see what those issues might be. I also believe that the earlier you discover things the better, since it is less disruptive to the child's life. So, having your child know that you love them unconditionally is important, but so is the search. I know my son's temporary ticcing got our whole family to be healthier. Much of the burden is on me--I do more cooking than I would otherwise. And it is expensive to go organic.

 

Stress is surely a trigger, but their is emotional stress plus all the other crud (artificial crud etc) that also stresses the body.

 

Claire

[patty]

Claire,

 

Yes, we have tried TV elimination for about 10 days when he first had tics. And at that time it didn't make an overall difference, so I allowed him TV 3 days a week, no more than an hour a day.

 

We have a LCD computer screen that my son uses for movies and a 13" LCD TV for general viewing. And I always make sure plenty of distance and in a brightly lite room. He used to have more motor and vocal tics while watching TV, and now he doesn't. TV does not make him tic anymore.

 

Claire, I remember you mentioned your son was treated for radiation. Can you give me more info on it? I have some questions on a previous post for you, "TV link to Bad Behavior", on page 2. Thx for the info.

 

BTW, I have made a few adjustments in my house to reduce radiation. I replaced our cordless phone in our house with the old fashion one with the cord. I don't allow my son to use the cell phone and stopped using our mircowave ( My husband is the only one who use it to warm up his food on occassion. I seldom used it becasue I question the safety of it and how it changes the food's nutrientional value).

 

Patty

[quan_daniel]

Patty,

My son's neck area can be tender at time.

Last year it is often the focal point of his neck tics.

 

This year we added foot bath with epsome salt and body bath with epsome salt.

Epsome salt is magnesium sulfate; I am sure you already knew.

 

That has helped him relax his muscles and advoid a lot of motor neck tics.

 

I have done epsome salt bath too; I can literally fall asleep in it.

 

Read instruction on box please.

 

It also helps him with sleep , especially after a nice bath.

 

We stop chiropractor about a year ago. He hates being popped on his neck by the chiro.

I wish I can find the type Chemar was talking about, but I don't find them where I live.

[patty]

Daniel,

 

I too am having a hard time finding a NUCCA chiropractor for my son. I live in California. However, I found a chiropractor who is certified for pediatric chiropractic. I am planning to meet with her next week, since my son's chiro will be leaving for maternity leave.

 

Does Epsom Salt bath help reduce your son's neck tic? I started epsom salt bath for my son last week, 2X a week. Not sure if it is making any difference since he also very little symptoms.

 

Sorry to hear your son is having neck trouble. My son's acupuncture uses seed and place them on various neck and shoulder points to alleviate pain when my son had the acute head nodding. It is painless and fast. The seed stays on for 3/4 days before it comes off by itself. It looks like a bandaide.

 

And if your son doesn't mind needle, acupuncture really helped my son with tic and muscle pain. Too bad, after about 7 sessions, my son refused to have any more needles.

 

Hope this helps.

 

patty

[Claire]

Hi Patty,

 

Thanks so much for the input on TV screen removal and tics. I do now remember your post on using LCD screens, but I didn't realize you had tried no screens. I I just updated that thread, as really think it is important to update that thread with people's direct experience, both where it worked and didn't work. We are at 74% success rate now.

 

My son wasn't treated for radiation...do you mean photosensitivity? We did so much at once, but I believe what reduced his photosensitivity was raising his antioxidant levels (which were abnormally low) that brought his mercury now and thus reduced his oxidative stress and mercury levels.

 

We did the www.spectracell.com FIA 5000 to check antioxidant levels and supplemented where he was low.

 

Claire

[quan_daniel]

Patty,

My son has very low tolerance for pain so no needle.

He will faint.

His neck tic I have not seen since last year.

I am sure it is still there lurking in the background.

I would say he is 99.9% neck tic free.

Knock onWOOD!!!

 

We do EP salt bath every night plus foot bath with Ep salt.

 

About 10 minutes each per bath.

[patty]

Hi Patty,

 

Thanks so much for the input on TV screen removal and tics. I do now remember your post on using LCD screens, but I didn't realize you had tried no screens. I I just updated that thread, as really think it is important to update that thread with people's direct experience, both where it worked and didn't work. We are at 74% success rate now.

 

My son wasn't treated for radiation...do you mean photosensitivity? We did so much at once, but I believe what reduced his photosensitivity was raising his antioxidant levels (which were abnormally low) that brought his mercury now and thus reduced his oxidative stress and mercury levels.

 

We did the www.spectracell.com FIA 5000 to check antioxidant levels and supplemented where he was low.

 

Claire

 

Claire,

 

Thx for the info. I will look into his antioxident level.

 

How did you eliminate TV for 2 years? What about school? My son gets an hour of computer lab a week and 10-15 2/3X a week in the classroom. I have spoken to his teacher about eliminiating the classroom computer time, but did not want to pull him out of the weekly computer lab becuz i don't want him to feel singled out.

 

Patty

[Claire]

Hi Patty,

 

My son was only in 3rd/4th/5th when we did this. He had very limited computer at school starting in 5th grade, and so we brought in an LCD monitor and it 'lived' in the classroom and was his to use when needed--which wasn't very often. (though we had a time limit back then, which the other kids never seemed to notice. It was a small school so there was lots of flexibility...his teacher got headaches/nausea from CRT screens, so she totally 'got' that they could irritate. All the kids loved the LCD screen and thought it was cool cuz they could use it too.

 

It was so important to him that he not be singled out that we bent over backwards. For example, I brought Whole Food treats to every sports and school event (the more expensive and yummy stuff), so all the kids went for those treats, not just him. $$$

 

At home we did lots of family games, Harry Potter booktapes, building stuff, and outdoor play. Made lots of playdates (who actually 'needs' a computer on a playdate?).

 

Fortunately he was so improved by middle school that he pretty much has a normal load now--no time limits other than what we think is healthy. Though he still has an LCD monitor at the middle school for computer lab work.

 

Claire

[quan_daniel]

Claire,

Thanks for pasta recommendation.

I will tell my chef..err..my wife about it.

 

All our monitors are LCD at home except my bedroom.

 

he watches about 5 minutes of TV per week and 21 hours of LCD on computer per week.

 

All seems to be tolerated.

 

He is okay also on CRT tv at his grandparents house. He can be on it for couple of hours without problem.

 

I understand the flickering affect but with him I think he gets tense watching tv and started blinking..that

was a year ago or more..now more relax I guess except scary stuff..which he hardly go near it..

as of this year he loves and tolerate Danny Phantom..boy turns into ghost...

 

Leaves are falling where I live...so far we have not started Zyrtec or Claritin on him yet...

It can be all the probiotic..flax oil...zinc..helping him..

 

I am glad I found this website. Thanks Sheila...are u still checking up on us :-)...

[julia24]

I wanted to add a different perspective on this stress question. For me, my tics have always been much worse when I'm doing typical American "relaxing" activities, such as watching TV, reading, sitting & doing nothing. My grandmother pinpointed the connection when I was very young. When I am concentrating hard on something, I don't tic. Similary, when I used to be in the drama club and had plays onstage during high school, I naturally did not tic. Not once. When I am working hard at an activity that occupies most of my mental energy, I don't tic. I used to read a lot when I was younger, and I never ticced when reading, because I had the ability to drown out everything else that was going on & pour myself into the book. Now, though, I have a 3-year-old & I am always reading with "half an ear," so to speak. Now, reading increases tics.

 

I just wanted to throw that out there as another possible cause. Stress does cause more ticcing for me, but the stress has to be extreme--not just daily little struggles. More like trauma (at least for me). But my ticcing is like clockwork every time I try to do a "relaxing" activity.

 

And, FWIW, Chemar hit the nail on the head with the "internal biological stress" that we never see. I kept wondering why I had this sudden noticeable increase in tics about 10 weeks into my pregnancy. A couple weeks later, I found out that the baby had died at that same time. Immediately after the miscarriage happened (and I mean within hours), my ticcing had improved. I can't help but think that I was reacting to an internal biological stress.

 

Oh, and some illnesses increase tics for me, while some don't.

 

-Julie