tryinmybest Posted May 20, 2009 Report Share Posted May 20, 2009 Hi! We are just now learning that some of my 10 year old sons behaviors when he was younger were actually tics. He is now having loud throat clearing and nose puffing noises. Everyone around him is very aware of them but they don't seem to bother him. They can be almost constant sometimes and never once has he complained. Is this atypical. We do not have a diagnosis yet but I am also wondering if that would be an indicator of aspergers? My sister thinks he is too social to have that. Thanks! Holly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
san70 Posted May 20, 2009 Report Share Posted May 20, 2009 Holly, What are some of your son's other behaviors that make you think of asperger's? San Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tryinmybest Posted May 21, 2009 Author Report Share Posted May 21, 2009 Thanks for your interest! I do not see him making good eye contact although as I have observed other kids his age and I don't think that he is all that different. When he was younger he had trouble with transitions and even last year(third grade) he had a few tears during his schools valentines party when he found out his gifted class had been canceled in order to have the party( it was his favorite class). He is at a new school this year and is having trouble fitting in with the group. Part of this could be because of his runny nose and puffing out of his nose along with a gas problem. The mom of one of his friends said the other kids asked her son why he wanted to be his friend because he is so gross. His son told them he really liked him because he was neat to be with. He also has other friends at school who are a year older that he met in chess club and piano. They seem to really like him and he always wants to have them over. He does well with one or two friends but seems to get lost in a group situation. His handwriting is also horrible. I have read that many children with Aspergers are often diagnosed as tourettes instead. We finally have an appointment with a neurologist on Friday. I don't know if they have any training with aspergers? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kim Posted May 21, 2009 Report Share Posted May 21, 2009 Holly, Just wanted to say that I don't think it's unusual at all for your son to not be bothered by his tics. Many kids hardy seem to notice. I would focus on the tummy/gas issue and maybe try to figure out if there is a sinus infection or allergies (seems tics can develope in area's that are bothering kids) with the runny nose. Has your son's handwritting deteriorated around the time you started noticing the tics or has it always been messy ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CSP Posted May 21, 2009 Report Share Posted May 21, 2009 Hi TMB, I have also heard of the tic and aspergers connection. I did want to let you know I have a friend who has 2 sons and her husband who have aspergers. The boys do show some different sides to aspergers even tho they are in the same family. The oldest boy is very shy and very much has a hard time looking into the eyes of others. He also has what my friend calls meltdowns over what we would think was not a big deal. The younger son has a very hard time making friends he just does not know how to keep them, he may say somethings that his mother would understand as the aspergers, but others would think was rude. He did have a throat clearing tic for a few weeks, but it went away. Before I knew her husband had aspergers I really thought he was rude. For example he would knock at the door and beeline for our video collection and never say hi. He can talk to you on some days and others you think he is mad at you. I use to hate to call her and have him answer the phone because it sounded like he did not want to get her, and I thought he did not want me to be her friend. Now that we all are aware of aspergers I don't even think about it, I just know he is a good guy and sometimes he can only rap his thoughts around one thing at a time. I don't know if this would help, but I thought aspergers children were not much into sports or that kind of phy. activity. I have read that the high dopamine in TSer is what causes them to be more on the athletic side. How is you son in that dept? That may help you to know. Good luck, CP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swim Posted May 22, 2009 Report Share Posted May 22, 2009 Hi TMB, With the runny nose and gas problems, might want to look into an allergic reaction to something - maybe food related. Also, gas or digestive issues could be related to candida. Did the tics some on almost overnight, or were they gradual. Has he had any recent strep infections? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tryinmybest Posted May 23, 2009 Author Report Share Posted May 23, 2009 Thanks everyone for your questions, ideas. His symptoms were gradual we just didn't recognize them as tics. We have been on a wheat/gluten free diet for the last month. He was allergy skin tested in 2006 and did not show any food allergies but does have dust, mold, polllen. Of course we live in Lexington Ky the worst place for allergies! DS is not all that athletic but he isn't the worse. He is a good swimmer and bike rider. We went to the neurologist yesterday and he did think ds has tourettes. He also said that it is not unusual for them to not realize they are ticcing. He also doubted that he had Aspergers. Social relationships are important to him and he is a pretty friendly guy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chemar Posted May 23, 2009 Report Share Posted May 23, 2009 Hi and welcome my son has genetic TS and often is totally unaware when ticcing. he is not athletic either, but rather very artistic and musical, writer etc. aspergers was one of the first things we checked but he also doesnt fit the profile as very sociable, outgoing, gentle disposition we found magnesium key to his supplemental needs as well as eliminating anything artificial/chemical from his diet. he doesnt have food allergies per se tho lately has mentioned he feels digestively better when avoiding peanuts and potatoes/nightshades. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tryinmybest Posted May 23, 2009 Author Report Share Posted May 23, 2009 Thanks Cheri, We have been trying diet alterations but today I am going to let him have pizza at his friends party. It will be interesting to see if it makes a difference. It has been challenging wheat/dairy/corn/additives and vegetarian but he has been a trooper through all of this. I did ask his pediatrican to test his magnesium, B6 and B12. B12 was in normal range. B6 and magnesium were slightly high. Does that mean magnesium is most likely not his problem. His doc did the testing for me but doesn't know alot about vitamins/minerals so he didn't know what implications it would have. Your son sounds like a nice young man, just like mine. He is way into music-piano,trombone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
san70 Posted May 25, 2009 Report Share Posted May 25, 2009 I wonder the same. If the magnesium level comes out within the normal range, is it just that our kids have trouble processing it? Would an increase help them? For those who have given mag supplements, do your kids have low counts? Do our kids need more to help with the tics? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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