Tics and Light Sensitivity/Stress

[Pippin]

My son developed a complex chronic tic at the pool one day - seemly out of the blue. He has now been ticcing for 2.5 years. Light, especially bright sunlight, causes him to tic constantly. Indoor concentrated light can also make him tic. How do you control lighting? Is there therapy that is successful? Should I be looking at this differently? Stress and excitement also increase tics. I don't know of anyone in my extended family that has tics but anxiety problems are common. If anyone has any advice as to where to start, I'd really appreciate it. Thank you.

[Chemar]

Hi

if you do searches here for username Claire and the keywords screens and photosensitive you should get lots of good info on this

[CSP]

pippin,

 

Hi, My son is 15yo now and when he was 8 or 9 he also started ticcing after swimming. He did not do it very much and the tics even went away for months. It is hard to remember since I did not even know what TS was then. I remember he rolled his eyes but that was all. It was not until he had 2 shots shortly after he turned 12 that he exploded with tics.

 

My son also tics very easily when excited and stressed. I have taken a break for coming hear everyday because my son asked my too. I think I was causing him some stress when ever I gave him a new vit. I read on here, and told him to try this one. We have had only a small amount of luck with vitamins working, and when one does work, it seems to stop working after awhile. He got real upset with me and I felt I should stop coming here and see how he does when I'm not pushing another pill on him.

 

What we do see is he does not have days worth of ticcing over excitment anymore. What I mean is, when ever the Steelers would be playing in the play-offs or Superbowl he would tic everyday. This year it has only been the day of the game. Even now he is talking about the game Sunday but not showing any more ticcing.

 

I can only say that because I have relaxed on the vitamins and let him live a normal teenage life he is ticcing less. He is a frosh. in high school and walks across the street to attend sports games on Friday nights. He was even giddy last Fri. because he met up with 2 other buddies and the 3 boys hung out with 3 girls at the wrestling game. He is doing a winter weight lifting workout for baseball tryouts, and really feeling like just one of the guys.

 

He gave me the sweetest Christmas card that I had to ask if he really read it before he baught it. He said he did, and the card said he knew everything I do for him was because I wanted the best for him. I couldn't help but cry. He really has been very sweet since I have let up on pushing vitamins on him. It is as if he knew they were not helping and wanted me to stop. I think this has lifted a lot of stress off him and he is happy being a teenager. I don't know but I feel like this has helped all his stress school, games, walking home in the dark, ect...

 

THE ONLY THING WE ASKED OF HIM WAS NOT TO EAT ANY GARBAGE WHEN HE IS OUT. He agreed partly because he is very allergic to peanuts and does not want another trip to the hosp. I make sure he has a very good diet with a rainbow of color.

 

He is not bothered by the TV anymore, he is by the computer, but I think that is more the excitment of the game and not the light.

 

How old is your son? Maybe mine is just growing up? I don't know, I just am really liking the tight squeeze hug he gives me when he leaves for school every morning.

 

Hope that helps, I know everyone is different.

 

CP

[samsmom]

Just wanted to say that we also became aware that bright light made Sam tic more a year or so ago. We really noticed it when he played baseball last spring. We got him glasses with Transitions lenses in, which he wears every day, indoors and out. On really bright days if we go out, he wears some really cool wrap-around sunglasses,which he loves! It seems to have helped. Sam also does not have family history of tics, and we have found that his allergies, along with stress and excitement, and the light issues, are the main triggers for him.

 

Sue

[Pippin]

Just wanted to say that we also became aware that bright light made Sam tic more a year or so ago. We really noticed it when he played baseball last spring. We got him glasses with Transitions lenses in, which he wears every day, indoors and out. On really bright days if we go out, he wears some really cool wrap-around sunglasses,which he loves! It seems to have helped. Sam also does not have family history of tics, and we have found that his allergies, along with stress and excitement, and the light issues, are the main triggers for him.

 

Sue

 

Thanks! I haven't looked into allergies yet and I'm trying to determine the best method to do so. Have you tried herbal supplements for stress? The light trigger is the one I find the most difficult to deal with. Have you heard of kids "out growing" light sensitivities? Have you read anywhere what causes a light sensitivity? My son just turned 9 and has been ticcing for 2.5 years. I was told by the neurologist to just ignore the tic, which I did for a while.

[Chemar]

Hi Pippin

 

I really recommend you read Claire's old posts on how she helped her child with light sensitivity

 

there is a wealth of info in her posts

[Pippin]

Hi Pippin

 

I really recommend you read Claire's old posts on how she helped her child with light sensitivity

 

there is a wealth of info in her posts

 

 

This morning when you sent this message, I was actually searching older posts of Claire. I've gathered some ideas. Mostly overwhelmed and somewhat confused. There's a clinic within 45 minutes that I believe may do a lot of testing discussed.

 

I have very little knowledge and experience with tics. I will take him off all screen time for a week to see if there's an impact. Easy enough. However, he doesn't tic when watching TV. He tics at bright natural lighting, changes in lighting within the house, glares coming in the windows, etc, which you can imagine is often. He waves his hand in front of his face and usually his head is tilted somewhat upward. He can actually be drawn to the light and then stand there constantly ticcing.

 

Anxiety is the only thing I know of that runs in our family and I believe it to be a chemical imbalance. But I've never had any real assistance is this area either, just ignore it and it will go away. My son may have some anxieties. I have no evidence to support this, but I think everything is tied together and I'm not sure where to start. I don't understand why doctors can't provide more insight and help. I did buy the book promoted on this website and I'm about half way through. I just finished the chapter on photosensitivities. Discussions on light sensitivities usually discuss flickering light. Again, I feel that may be missing the target with my son. ??

 

Thanks for you encouragement to continue looking. I'm just starting.

[samsmom]

Pippin

What you're describing is the same as Sam used to do - he would look at the sun too as if he was drawn to it, and wave his fingers in front of it. It was almost like an autistic-type behavior to me. He doesn't seem to be affected by the flickering types of light either - we have CRT TV's in the house and they don't cause any obvious increase in tics. We have one LCD TV in our bedroom which we switched with the main one downstairs for a couple of weeks just in case we saw a difference in him but there was none. We took Sam to a pediatric eye doctor to get him checked out and she recommended the Transitions lenses. It's a good idea in any case to protect the eyes from the sun with a good pair or polarized sunglasses . It might be worth taking your son to get an eye test and discussing this with the doctor then. I remember reading something about how dopamine levels increase when bright light is received into the retina, so it kind of makes sense to me that being exposed to bright light can make tics worse.

Sue

[Pippin]

Pippin

What you're describing is the same as Sam used to do - he would look at the sun too as if he was drawn to it, and wave his fingers in front of it. It was almost like an autistic-type behavior to me. He doesn't seem to be affected by the flickering types of light either - we have CRT TV's in the house and they don't cause any obvious increase in tics. We have one LCD TV in our bedroom which we switched with the main one downstairs for a couple of weeks just in case we saw a difference in him but there was none. We took Sam to a pediatric eye doctor to get him checked out and she recommended the Transitions lenses. It's a good idea in any case to protect the eyes from the sun with a good pair or polarized sunglasses . It might be worth taking your son to get an eye test and discussing this with the doctor then. I remember reading something about how dopamine levels increase when bright light is received into the retina, so it kind of makes sense to me that being exposed to bright light can make tics worse.

Sue

 

Thank you!!! You are the first person to tell me that you experience a similar situation!!! I had taken him to a pediatric eye doctor and he didn't seem to find anything. I think it's time to take him back again. After wearing the polarized sunglasses for a while, was your son able to stop wearing them?

 

I've also been concerned about different chemicals in the brain including dopamine and serotonin. Do you have any information on these causing tics and anxiety issues?

 

Thanks, again. This is the beginning of my search. I don't know any other parents in my area that have kids that tic. My seems to stand out even more. People stare - which I'm over. However, the support online is nice.

[samsmom]

Just to clarify - the eye doctor didn't find anything unusual - I don't think they can see anything different when looking at the eye, but was able to prescribe glasses for him with the Transitions lenses, which are the ones that go dark when you go out in bright light. He wears them all the time when at school and most of the time at home too. We were lucky that a couple of the boys in his class had just got glasses so he didn't feel too different! We use the sunglasses instead when he's out in really sunny weather and the normal glasses don't cover his eyes well enough, such as when he's out doing sports in the spring/summer (we're in the Pacific Northwest so don't get a lot of sun the rest of the year!) I also have him wear a baseball cap whenever he can for extra shade. Sam is so used to wearing the glasses/sunglasses that I haven't considered him not wearing them at some time in the future. Guess that will be up to him when he's older and he'll be able to make his own mind up about whether they help or not. I know I have seen a big improvement in his behaviors when out in bright light since we got the glasses. Higher than normal levels of dopamine are thought to be one of the causes of tics - keep reading Sheila's book and previous posts on this forum (try to use the Search feature so you don't have to go thru everything!) and it will all begin to make more sense!

Sue

[rwhitlock]

Pippin and Samsmom-

 

I just found this post, and I hope you can reply. You both described the exact same tic that my son is doing. I have to ask, what's the progress now? Diagnosis, treatment, how are your kids now?

 

Hope you can reply,

Thanks,

Randy

Edited February 9, 2011 by rwhitlock

[rwhitlock]

My son Isaac has been doing the same thing (sunlight, head back, rolling eyes, waving hand in front of face) for a few months, and it's gotten worse. Neurologist said EEG is fine, so "it's just a habit, ignore it." Not quite satisfied with that. We've been looking over this site, gotten some good info and things we'll be trying and looking into. But still a bit worried.

Edited February 9, 2011 by rwhitlock

[rwhitlock]

My son has been exhibiting the same behavior that Samsmom and Pippin described.

I'm hoping to contact others who are dealing with the same issue, hoping that we can benefit from each other's progress.

Here is a video of my son's behavior:

My son's tic

[dmbristol]

Pipin my 6 year old daughter has the same thing. She has epilepsy and was given medication that I think caused this to happen. Sunglasses outside used to help but any light now seems to bother her. Sometimes in public or outside when I can't control the lights she can't even use the restroom by herself because it gets so bad. It is hard everyday for her. She is afraid to go outside. Her neuro has tried a few medications but they make it worse. I am glad there is someone to talk to about this although I am sure we would be happier to never have to talk about it again. I am planning on taking her to a neurologist that specializes in movement disorders specifically. I hope I find some solution to this and I would be happy to share if I find one. It would be nice if she could go outside and run again. If anyone has suggestions I would be so glad to take them. Good luck everyone

[Sheila]

Hi -- One approach to look into with light sensitivity is the Irlen method. Please see this link: http://irlen.com/light-sensitivity-fluorescent-lights-and-irlen/

 

Helen Irlen is on our advisory board and Latitudes.org has articles by her:

http://latitudes.org/helen-irlen-ms-answers-parent-questions-on-scotopic-sensitivity/

http://latitudes.org/the-day-the-notes-stopped-dancing/

http://latitudes.org/finding-solutions-through-irlen-techniques/

http://latitudes.org/can-tints-help-adhd-tics-family/

 

Two other things to consider would be lab work through an integrative practitioner to find out if there are nutritional imbalances that need to be addressed. Also, a screen to rule out heavy metal overload or toxins in the body. Both of these situations can affect vision.

 

I hope everyone on this thread who is dealing with this can find some relief. It is such an all-consuming problem for a child!