Photosensitivity and Tics, biofeedback?

[Claire]

efgh,

 

This was just an individual's comment, not a published link. This is why it is so important to read the source material and not just rely on individuals. All of my sources are on photosensitive epilepsy (internet), and Doris Rapp on ADD (Is this your child's world series). I have yet to find anything published on flicker and tics (fluorescent lights, TV/computer, all have flicker), which is why I posted my thread here--to get more information. I am convinced of the correlation for my son, but I can't speak for others.

 

Thanks for the link, by the way! I think people are underestimating the TV as a "they are relaxing, so they tic". I think it is the flicker, and I sure wish some neurologist would do a study where they EEGs during TV exposure for kids with tics. And one where they eliminate TV for a month and see what happens to those kids whose parents have noticed that they tic during TV.

 

Claire

[Claire]

Hi Jean,

 

Can you possibly post here (for newcomers with similar issues, I think threads are helpful)--whether you have noticed improvement in your child from no TV/computer for two months (either positive or negative--it is good anecdotal feedback).

 

Does he still get computer at school? How often?

 

Claire

[Guest Jean]

Claire and all,

 

When we found my son’s tics increased after Computer/games/TV last November, we started putting him on NO Video games (including the Game boy/XBox/ computer games)/Computer/TV (and no piano ). Meanwhile, we have followed Feingold diet. Also, he’s started his Epsom salt bath daily since December. Currently, his motor tics are rarely noticeable. He still has his weekly computer lab from school (40 mins. each lab). About two weeks ago, he started his “sniffing” that becomes much noticeable when he is reading, sitting in a car or has nothing to do. I can tell that his allergy is bad these days also. His nose is congested in the morning. So, it hard for me to tell what can be the cause of his “sniffing”.

 

As personal view, I really don’t think that he misses anything by eliminating computer/games, especially games (I’m not favor games at all, but I work with computers all day though). Good TV programs will help. At this point, I’m kind of nervures to reintroduce the TV. I may let him watch with limited time if he asks for (amazing he doesn’t even ask for it).

 

There are other things I would like to share. As we all understand, it’s hard to stop TV/Computer/games for young kids as well as putting them on limited food. I realized after I told him that I eat what he eats and don’t do what he is not allowed, he appears OK. I also ask him to bring back to home cookies/soda given from school. Then I exchange them with his favor toys/cards. He seems fine and happy. He told me yesterday that he expected to get more cards soon as the Valentine’s Day is coming....

 

Hope this helps!

Ps: I may start a new thread when I have more findings/experiments on this topic.

[Claire]

Hi Jean,

 

Yes, I found it much easier for my son if I didn't do what he couldn't do (other than that my work is on the computer), both for foods (wheat/peanuts) and TV/Computer. Gradual change is best also. I offer trades for things at school, and I have some treats/snacks at his afterschool care center that he can eat. This doesn't change the wanting to not feel different, so I let him have what other kids are having.

 

You say the tics are gone now, except 'maybe' a sniff (does he think he is stuffy?). How long after you stopped TV/computer and started Feingold did it take?

Did you notice an improvement over the 2 week vacation when he didn't get the 40 minute computer lab at school? Do you notice any more fidgets/wiredness after the lab? I think my son's initial reaction is to be fidgety/wired and then if he continues with the computer/TV for days he gets the tics. The tics take longer to go away, as though he has reached a 'worse' level of impact to his nervous system.

 

Finally, my techie friend said that the technicians at school can easily download drivers for the computers so that you can set the monitors at 75 hz frequency, not 60 hz. As you go up the frequency level, fewer people are affected. You might wish to consider this at your son's school--I bet many children would benefit, as I personally think this contributes to ADHD also. I can't tell you how many adults I know complain of the 60 hz computers--she says the same is true of her office, she is affected also, and others at her IT department are. One woman has her office with no fluorescent lights--she just can't work with them on.

 

My son can have limited TV/computer on the LCD monitor, but he hasn't asked in months. Lifestyle change--he and his dad are playing basketball in the garage now, not sitting in front of the TV. I guarantee you he will be fitter than the average child with this lifestyle! As I mentioned, since he has been so active, he rarely gets sick. He got a deep chest cold and it lasted only 2 days this week--it is totally gone (echinacea helps too)!

 

I am trying very hard to keep similar topics on the same thread, it sounds like you are too. When I go to braintalk they are pretty good about this and it really helps with research. I just wish their were more research links on this topic, but things like efgh's braintalk thread at least contribute anecdotally, which helps.

 

Yes, an important aspect is making it livable to the child. As I have mentioned previously, having an active friend made a huge difference for my son. And he can still vegetate with CD's and drawing/comic books/crafts/whatever--and even some skateboard fiction books.

 

Claire

[Guest Jean]

Claire,

 

Thanks for sharing! I wouldn’t say his tics are completely gone, but close enough lately (it’s about 2+ months since he’s been on TV/computer/food eliminations). He sniffs with or without his stuffing nose (my observation), but only at certain time. His tics got worse after the computer lab before, but he seems ok recently. My son’s reaction to computer is immediately, i.e., after he played with the computer over one hour especially with the computer games, his tics would show off often. I don’t think that video games and computer (or TV) are the only triggers for him. Certain sports trigger him as well, such as riding bike, playing soccer, etc.

 

You’re absolutely right about the life change. Both my husband and I were hardly have time to excise before. Starting this month, we joggle every Saturday/Sunday mornings with our son. I believe that helps reducing his tics as well.

 

Now, I am thinking myself may be sensitive to fluorescent lights. I feel very uncomfortable to work with all the lights on in my office. I usually keep the minimum lights on. Also, if I set my monitor to normal bright, my eye hurts. I like to set it to the lowest level (so as the contrast). My co-workers will question me how I can work with my monitor like that.

[Guest Jean]

Forgot to mention, during these months, I gave him tried flax seed oil for 2 days. His tics got worse. I stopped the oil then, he was better. A week later, I let him tried BodyBio oil for 3 days. His tics increased, then I stopped the BodyBio. Now, I need to find a doctor who is willing to order those tests that Jennifer and you posted at the other threads, so I can better understand his body balance.

[Guest Guest_efgh]

Jean, good to know that your son's motor tics are almost gone!! How do you give the epsom salt bath - does he take it after his normal shower ? Do you fill the bath tub with epsom salt? When does he take it? My son's motor tics are hardly noticeable since two months but since a month, his vocal tics are really bothering us. It started with a slight grunt/sniff but now is more frequent/prominent. Jean , how about dairy? Do you give dairy to your son? Because dairy in general triggers a lot of allergies.

I have started my son on magnesium taurate since two days. Lets see how it goes.

Claire, good to know that you are proactively starting a new thread on NO MEDIA for tics. Iam sure it would help a lot of people to experiment. I have limited TV watching in my son's case as of now. I would gradually want to stop it. As an alternative, I have decided to bring his grandparents to my place next month so that my son will have more people, more fun , more activities and hence lesser boredom and lesser TV time. I am trying to attack it indirectly. He gets moody when I ban TV and so I have to subtly handle it. Claire, my son sleeps much much better after introducing magnesium taurate. Probably its worth a try for you.

[Claire]

efgh,

 

Thanks for the magnesium taurate input, I will check it out. Is this supposed to be a benefit of it? How much do you give? I am still doing the melatonin, as I am trying to break him of going to sleep with a radio on, which I think interferes with his sleep. I cut back to 1/2 mg--some on the other board and in studies do 6 mg.

 

I agree that sudden bans can be really hurtful to the child, this needs to be handled so carefully, so as not to bring undue sadness to the child. Ours was gradual, first no computer. When months later we noticed the TV trigger (perhaps he started to get more sensitive over time, or was coming to an age where this was an issue), we talked with him to reach a deal on what we could trade off. I often have rewards: the first 30 days is a dollar a day reward for breaking/making a new habit. Or a sticker (equiv. to a dollar) that he uses to save up to something.

 

I know this isn't an issue for every child. But for us, we don't need food restrictions if we do just this. And the LCD monitors are a godsend.

 

Claire

[Guest Guest_efgh]

Claire

 

Its very much a sleep aid , a known benefit. I buy it in cardiovascular research.

Check this link http://www.thewayup.com/products/0186.htm

 

Hope this helps.

 

Claire and others,

 

Is you son the placid kind or the restless hyper kind. My son used to be so calm and quiet but I notice that after the TS symptoms started he is so restless, more talkative and loud comparitively.... Is it common amongst your kids too? Probably he is doing all this to camouflage his vocal tics?????

Also how much you paid for LCD monitors? I asked you in one of the posts regarding the cost of the anti allergy sheets approximately for the mattress, quilt and pillow cases. It approximately works out to 500 dollars for me.. is that ok?

 

Goodluck.

[Claire]

efgh

Thanks for the link on mag taur.

 

Yes that is what it costs for allergy covers, as I just bought more myself (ouch!), though I heard that Walmart now has them cheap. It might be worth a check to see if their quality is ok--the feel must be comfortable for your child. I get the highest quality level for the covers. If you don't have a HEPA filter, they are great for dust, and relatively quiet.

 

I posted a link, I think somewhere in this thread on LCD monitor costs. For a 15" WITH a TV tuner also, it is about $450. Samsung has one. I just searched bestbuy.com. This is where I bought ours.

 

My son was always calm, but lately with the delayed sleep, he seemed more wired and restless to me, though mostly at bedtime. Now he seems more back to normal again--though the melatonin is a factor at night. After too many sweets, ie some school event, he gets overly chattery and wired. He recognizes it and thinks it is funny, it doesn't bother him, just me. Fortunately this is only once/month. I don't know if it is the sugar or the artificial colors/flavors causing it.

 

Is he focused in school? Is this just at home?

 

Claire

[Guest Jean]

efgh,

 

Good to hear your son's symptoms have improved!

 

My son takes the epsom salth bath after his normal shower before he goes to bed. I dissolve 2 cups of salt in a container first and pour it into the bath tub after the bath tub is filled up with warm water. He usually takes the bath between 10 – 20 mins. For dairy, I give him milk only these days but limited to 8 oz a day. I don’t think my son is at stable stage yet. I still try to help his sniffing. He does have running nose (I believe it’s due to his allergy). The cause of his sniffing could be combination. I just joined Feingold org. membership, and I should receive the material in a week. Good to have a new thread to discuss about the Feingold diet.

[Guest Guest_efgh]

Jean

 

Thanks for your reply. Do you give your son cheese, yoghurt , butter etc .

You are already following Feingold diet for your son. How will those materials further help you? Did you pay online to become a member of Feingold?

How about your son, does he appear more restless/hyper kind after the onset of tics?

Thanks.

[Guest Jean]

Hi efgh,

 

I posted my answers to your question regarding Feingold diet at the "Feingold diet..." thread.

[Guest Nancy]

I found this on Dr. Mercola's newsletter today. I still don't know how to provide links, so I just copied it! It sounds like this LCOS technology is similar to LCD screen, so I assume it would be better for people sensitive to the flicker effect? I looked for any mention of that, but couldn't find it. Do you more knowledgeable people think this is correct? If so, I think we'll wait to buy a new tv, because it sounds like these will be much cheaper with better viewing all around. There was another link to this that made it sound like you would be able to get a pretty big size for about $1000.

 

 

Inexpensive Flat Panel TVs Coming This Year

 

 

At the Consumer Electronic Show held in Las Vegas, Intel announced the company’s new liquid-crystal-on-silicon (LCOS) chip that will provide less expensive and better quality flat-panel TVs. The chip provides crisper images than rival technologies and could yield displays that cost below $2,000. Intel plans to start selling their product later in 2004.

LCOS is a micro-projection technology and is cheaper than direct view technologies that cost $6,000 to $10,000. The difference in the two is that LCOS requires only a tiny amount of optical-quality glass because the image is created on a one-inch chip by individually controlling millions of tiny pixels, whereas with direct-view technologies the image is created at the actual size, requiring more optical-quality glass. The more optical-quality glass used, the more expensive the product will be.

 

Some major electronics corporations are already selling the flat panel LCOS, but a display technologies manager at Intel says the difference is Intel will have crispier images because the Intel chips are 100 percent digital as opposed to most LCOS technologies that still control the liquid crystals using analogue voltages, which are harder to produce accurately.

[Claire]

Nancy,

 

I think these newer TV have no flicker, but not sure. I did read that the plasma TV screens have no flicker.

 

Philips is coming out with a 100 hz TV --it may be out in Europe already, that will be much cheaper than the flat panels (which do run about $2000), from what I have read. It 'flickers', but the rate is so high as to be out of the trigger range for the vast majority of even sensitive people.

 

Also, size does matter, ie smaller is better--and cheaper. Less impact on the brain, and likely explains my son's most intense reaction to movies.

 

You can get a 15" Samsung LCD monitor with TV tuner today on Bestbuy for $450. We bought one at one of their retail stores. I don't know their return policy.

 

Ronnas mentioned on braintalk that LCD seemed not to be an issue for her son in comparison to the normal screens--it sounds like she has been observing this and seen improvement. Her comments are on Braintalks' TV and tics thread.

http://neuro-mancer.mgh.harvard.edu/ubb/Fo...TML/001930.html

 

And of course efgh posted some initial positive results with no TVon another thread here.

 

As I mentioned on Braintalk, this is all just anecdotal (except for the research on photosensitive epilepsy, and the 8% of the population having some abnormal EEG to flicker), and someday I hope there will be enough positive success with tic reduction to merit a study. Every child is different, but many of us do notice some commonalities for subgroups of kids.

 

I personally think the up-close viewing of computers in recent years has increased the sensitivity of some children.

 

Claire