help with vocal tics

[Clark]

Hello all.

 

We have been reading the forum for awhile now and the information is really helpful - thanks to all. Our son has been doing better and we have been able to reduce his tics considerably. In the past 3 months or so we have noticed his vocal tics getting worse. He has now started to stutter and say uh, uh, uh or clear his throat a lot while trying to start to say something. Typically it's when he is excited and wants to tell us about something. He just turned 11 and we know that hormones may be kicking in as well as he seems to be a little edgy and short tempered lately. He is taking Natural Calm + Calium 2x a day and B-complex once a day (both at recommended doses). Does anyone have some thoughts on what we might try to help reduce the vocal tics? Sometimes it will continue for several seconds and we know it frustrates him although he is in very good spirits about it and says it doesn't bother him. Thanks for any info in advance.

-Brian

[Chemar]

Hi Clark

Do you give taurine? Taurine and magenesium seem to work very well together overall re tics

 

 

some folks find L carnitine helpful, tho some get edgy on it

 

I am assuming your child has always done ok on B complex? I ask because some people do not tolerate B complex well and need their Bs separately

 

Also be sure to check diet for any artificial additives.

 

My son has always reacted to artificial additives with more VOCAL tics

[faith]

Hello Brian,

I'm happy to hear you have found some good direction for your son. I'm curious, did he just start this type of vocal recently or did he have that when you started implementing some suggestions from here and then it went away? Had he ever stuttered when he was younger? I mean, are you sure its a vocal tic and not a real stutter issue? What other interventions have you tried, other than the supplements you mentioned?

 

My son is dealing with a vocal sound now that has never fully gone away, but has eased up a little. He had a few other tics that have petered out once we eliminated some foods he was intolerant to, but the vocal still rears its head here and there. I may try giving the carnitine than Cheri mentioned, although I wish I had a better understanding on what it really does for the body overall.

 

Cheri (and anyone else who knows) -- while we are on the subject, I'm trying to read what I can about the carnitine, I'm just a little nervouse about trying something new and causing any havoc that I won't be able to fix...(the evil you know is better than the evil you don't know.........you know? ) Cheri, I am seeing a little conflicting info here, one which says you used acetyl l-carnitine, and then one in answer to Irena that says just l-carnitine is what you used for your son. Could I get a clarification please? Is it all just trial and error? Does anyone here have any negative experience with the acetyl carnitine? I thought that is the one I would try..... (for the vocal, that is).

 

 

Thanks

Faith

[samsmom]

Our 6 year old had a couple of bouts of really loud vocal tics over the last 2 years, both around spring/early summer when all his tics tend to be worse (he has lots of pollen allergies). This year I started to give him L-Carnitine from Twin Lab, 250 mg each day mixed in some juice, around March onwards. We have not experienced any of the vocal tics this year. We are also working on desensitising him to the pollens with sublingual drops so I guess that this could also have helped, but I am not willing to stop the L-Carnitine to find that out! We will take a break from it at the end of the summer once the pollens have died down. I haven't found him to be edgy with it at all.

 

Hope this helps

S

[Clark]

We haven't tried Taurine or L carnitine or acetyl l-carnitine although I have seen postings on the Subject. As Faith posted, is there any difference or does anyon have experience with it?

 

I guess he is doing well on B-complex. If we wanted to try and break-out the B's, what should we look for or try first in a vitamin. Also, we haven't tried reduction of the artificial Additives as it seems a little overwhelming on where to even start as everything seems to have them.

 

We did have him on the fish Oil but it didn't seem to affect his tics either way. He does take a Multi-vitamin which I'm sure has artificial additives to it. I'm looking for the ones that you noted Chemar.

 

He started the uh, uh, uh and clearing the throat and "stuttering" when we first noticed the tics (around 7 yrs old). However, lately (last 3 months or so) the Vocal has become the most noticable of all. It was always present as a secondary to his arm and facial movements but they have now seemed to subside.

 

I guess we really haven't done much more as we're not really sure where to go next.

 

 

Thanks a bunch for all the help as usual.

 

*****

 

Hi Clark

Do you give taurine? Taurine and magenesium seem to work very well together overall re tics

 

 

some folks find L carnitine helpful, tho some get edgy on it

 

I am assuming your child has always done ok on B complex? I ask because some people do not tolerate B complex well and need their Bs separately

 

Also be sure to check diet for any artificial additives.

 

My son has always reacted to artificial additives with more VOCAL tics

[samsmom]

Forgot to mention that we stopped Sam's B complex when we tried it over a year ago as I sensed that it was making things worse - can't really explain why, just a mother's instinct.. He now just takes B6.

 

Also, I would really encourage you to cut out the artificial additives - you're right that it's overwhelming to start with, but Sam's overall behavior seemed so much better after we did it, and he generally has fewer motor tics than he used to. I attribute this to his little body just having less to deal with. I also didn't know where to start with it, so I enrolled in the Feingold program. It only costs around $70, I think. I just sat down and spent a few evenings going thru their booklet which lists all the OK items, and planned a week's meals. Then I went to Whole Foods with their booklet and spent about 2 hours there finding everything. It was really time consuming and also expensive, but now it's just become routine and I would never go back to what I used to buy. It was 100% worth all the effort. It will become a lifestyle change for you after a few weeks. When Sam goes to other people's houses, I always give them a heads up about mealtimes and if he's going on a playdate I send him with food that's ok for him like the Annie's mac n cheese. I like to think that I'm also helping to convert other families to organic, 'clean' foods! And I was definitely a convenience shopper before all of this so if I can make the change, anyone can!

 

S

[Clark]

Thanks for the great info Samsmom. Can you send me more on the Feingold Program. I'd be interested in trying it out. Since school has been out, I think he has had a lot more "junk" food then usual. I'm beginning to wonder if that's the reason for the increase. We'll also try just B6 and cut-off the b-Complex for awhile.

 

Thanks again for everyones help. I'll let you know how our Progress goes.

 

*****

 

Forgot to mention that we stopped Sam's B complex when we tried it over a year ago as I sensed that it was making things worse - can't really explain why, just a mother's instinct.. He now just takes B6.

 

Also, I would really encourage you to cut out the artificial additives - you're right that it's overwhelming to start with, but Sam's overall behavior seemed so much better after we did it, and he generally has fewer motor tics than he used to. I attribute this to his little body just having less to deal with. I also didn't know where to start with it, so I enrolled in the Feingold program. It only costs around $70, I think. I just sat down and spent a few evenings going thru their booklet which lists all the OK items, and planned a week's meals. Then I went to Whole Foods with their booklet and spent about 2 hours there finding everything. It was really time consuming and also expensive, but now it's just become routine and I would never go back to what I used to buy. It was 100% worth all the effort. It will become a lifestyle change for you after a few weeks. When Sam goes to other people's houses, I always give them a heads up about mealtimes and if he's going on a playdate I send him with food that's ok for him like the Annie's mac n cheese. I like to think that I'm also helping to convert other families to organic, 'clean' foods! And I was definitely a convenience shopper before all of this so if I can make the change, anyone can!

 

S

[samsmom]

The info is all on the website www.feingold.org. Just go to 'Do The Diet' at the top of the home page screen and fill out the form. You'll get tons of info in the mail and the website is also useful for general info about the diet.

 

Be prepared to sit down and do a lot of reading when you first get it all!!

 

Good luck

S

[Jeff]

S - another benefit of Feingold membership is access to their membership bulletin board. When we were members, I frequented that forum. It was very active and extremely helpful for new food ideas, recipes, and just general support.

Have you visited their board yet?

Jeff

[samsmom]

Hi Jeff

I remember taking a quick look when I first got my membership packet, but I didn't read the instructions and don't really know how to get around the message boards. But thanks for reminding me about them - I'll take another look!

[Cum Passus]

Hi Faith,

 

Carnitine is responsable for the transport of long fatty acids into the energy producing cell units.

 

We have started it a week ago. I have not yet gotten to the full dose. At this point I have not seen a decrease in vocals that look like they would be from the carnitine. I mean some days his vocals go down others they go up. Just like any other day before the carnitine. The pill is huge, so I hoping to get something else, also he is to take it between meals. If I can ever get him to stop eating for a 1/2 hour.

 

Also we started Royal Jelly. So far all is good with both, I mean no bad effects anyway.

 

C.P.

 

P.S I remember reading that there was no known side effects to the L forms the D forms yes there were, but can't remember what. As always TS is special and any vit/nutrient could have the side effect of more ticcing.

 

Good luck let me know if you try it.

[faith]

thanks for the info on the carnitine. C.P. what form are you using, acetyl l-carnitine or just says l-carnitine? Same for Samsmom? Chemar, in case you missed my post above, which form did you use for your son?

 

Honestly, I am already chickening out, I gave one 250 mg. capsule yesterday, and am already imagining he is going louder. And then read a few posts which suggested tic increase, I am not going to give more today, so I think I just wasted $28.00! But that's okay. I think I have to try something I'm more comfortable with, that's what I usually suggest to others. For me, strengthening the immune response and helping the body along with detox seems what I feel is beneficial for my child. I have mentioned that it is getting harder and harder to get him to comply, he always wants something or other, and I can see he is not drinking as much of the water I want him to drink, I have to follow him with a glass and he'll take a sip here, sip there. I have to stop getting nutsy, I'm afraid to give the inositol, but I should try, and now this. Also is anyone here giving taurine with good results on vocal? I was giving that on my own last year, but when I started with our naturo I didn't give anymore, because we were doing other stuff, and he was still having the vocal sound before I stopped that in his supplements. Maybe I should put that in again........

 

Faith

[Cum Passus]

Hi Faith,

 

It is L-carnitine, by Innerich from L-Carnipure brand.

 

I gave our son a tiny bit to start then gave him more and more until we are at 1/2 tablet now. If you ever want to try again start him off with a tiny amount. That has worked very well for us so far.

I just remember last year when we would try something new, my son would tic more no matter what vitamin it was.

 

God Bless,

C.P.