7 year old with at least 3 vocal tics

[katielyashenko]

Hi everyone. I’m new here.

My sons name is Max. He is 7 years old and when he was 6 developed tics. At the time he had a sniffling thing which I thought could be due to dry nose or allergies but now I know it was a tic. It started a few weeks after he started going to a school once a week to learn a new language. That lasted for a few weeks and went away. No tics until he started kindergarten in the fall. Maybe 3 months or so into school he started a humming tic where he goes hmm over and over again.  That went away and immediately following he started a facial tic. His face would make so much different stuff. Rolling eyes, raising eyebrows,  smiling, all at the same time. Then as soon as it came on all tics disappeared. Now there is no school and he started ticking again 2 weeks ago. Started with the hmm and went to saying haa. A new one has replaced that one with a gasping one. He kind of just does 2-3 gasps in a row. Kind of like he got scared and gasped. and that continues like all day unless he is running around and playing with friends or something. He says it bothers him because he doesn’t want to do it but he can’t help himself:( it breaks my heart and there have been many days where I just cry in my room. 
a little background about him is that he was born with a heart defect that required 3 open heart surgeries. Most recent was when he was 5 years old. He is a bit shy around his teachers and new people that he meets. And also I think might have a bit of anxiety after all that he went through. And also easily scared. 
he is taking a bunch of supplements that I started a few days ago but so far I see no improvement 

[Sheila]

Hi Katielyashenko, Welcome to the Forums. I'm sorry you having to deal with the emotional response of watching Max have tics. Most of us have been there, tears and all. But on top of that you've dealt with his multiple open heart surgeries--that experience is hard to imagine. 

There's good news on the tics, which is that there are often answers to what is causing them. It could be a reaction to something environmental, (allergens, chemicals) a nutritional imbalance, a yeast overgrowth, an infection, food reaction. . . or a combination. That's why the right supplements for his body could help but are probably not going to give you the full answer. The possibilities may seem overwhelming but they are not meant to be--they are meant to be hopeful options that can be eliminated one by one until the culprits are found. 🙂  

I would recommend our book Stop Your Tics by Learning What Triggers Them because it is an easy read and can give you good ideas on things to look for and resources to help you.  Amazon    

Where do you live? You might want to consult with an allergist to see if sensitivities can be identified. 

Here's a summary on tics and Tourette's followed by some sample parent success stories on our site with advice. I hope this helps!  Please keep in touch and try not to despair. There are lots of reasons to be hopeful and encouraged.  We are glad you wrote. Sheila 

https://latitudes.org/conditions/what-is-tourette-syndrome/

• Griff’s Dramatic Recovery from Tourette Syndrome Using an Allergy Approach
• Nutritional Supplements for Tics and Tourette Syndrome
• Rethinking Triggers for Tourette Syndrome
• Tracking Down Triggers for Tourette Syndrome
• Dealing with Tourettes or Tics? I Wrote this Just for You
• What you Eat is What You Are
• Surprising Answers that Helped Our Son’s Tics
• My Advice to Parents on Diet and Tics