My 9 yo son gets into this constant head shaking or blinking..sometimes I think that he is nervous. It is tourettes' syndrome?? Please provide a serious answer - this isn't funny..
2007-02-01 14:44:23 · 21 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Grade-Schooler
he needs to see a doctor. the people on this site cannot possibly help you in the way a doctor can.
2007-02-01 15:15:20 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
Ask your regular pediatrician for a referral to a Pediatric Neurologist.
1) Don't panic. Tourettes is not the worst thing in the world. You will discover this if you spend any amount of time in a Pediatric Neurology waiting room.
2) Before you go, take notes and keep a log of what is happening and how often. There is no test or procedure to diagnose it. It is diagnosed by oral history from you and observation by the Doctor. The changing tics will have to have been present for more than a year for diagnosis. They may ask for an EEG. This is not necessary nor can it diagnose Tourettes, but it may be helpful in ruling out other seizure disorders.
3) At home in a relaxed environment, video tape him candidly so he will not "perform" for the camera. Tape him when the tics are very obvious in case the tics and/or vocal tremors are not present at the prescribed day and time of the Neurology appointment.
4) Take your video camera (to show the tape), your notes, and your husband with you. For some reason, Doctors tend to dismiss Moms as hysterical/overreacting. They will take a set of parents seriously. Go figure. I had to switch Doctors until someone listened!
Best wishes for a good outcome. Please feel free to look at my many best answers on this subject.
2007-02-02 20:34:55 · answer #2 · answered by Juliart 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well, it could very well be tourette syndrome. You really do need a proffesional opinion on that though. I can offer you some advice on the issue both as a person with Tourettes as well as a mother of a TS child, so let me know if theres anything I can do to be of help. Also, look up your local chapter, of the Tourette Syndrome Foundation. Good luck.
2007-02-01 23:32:19 · answer #3 · answered by binglejells2003 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
take him to a neurologist. even doctor's often have very little knowledge of tourettes. It took me several years to be diagnosed with it as a kid because it kept getting written off as alergies, ear infections, etc. 9 is a very normal age for symptoms of tourettes to become more apparent or more numerous. Just be aware that if he does have tourettes, this does NOT mean he will be cussing uncontrollably, that's a very very uncommon form of tourette's even though it's what most people seem to think of. It may also change, wax and wane, it can be a difficult disorder to diagnose. I would defenitely recommend taking him to a neurologist, and don't worry, lots of kids will eventually grow out of it or it will be less severe. I still have a few tics (blinking, eye twitches, hand twitches) but they're not too bad. And PLEASE do not punish him or try to keep him from ticcing, he can't help it, and the more stressed he gets the worse it will be. god bless hun.
2007-02-01 23:22:31 · answer #4 · answered by boo 5 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Depending on how long the behavior has gone on, it could be something more serious, or it could be completely nothing. I agree with the other people who said go see his doctor about it. But pay attention to when it happens as well, because it could be that he is nervous, and just has some kind of nervous tick, it could be later on in the day, and a sign of him being tired, it could be a sign of some kind of mental or behavioral problem. At least if you have noticed it occurs at certain times, that can help the doctor narrow it down and send him to see the proper specialists if it is a real problem.
2007-02-02 00:36:44 · answer #5 · answered by Cyndi Storm 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Check with a physician--it could be something like autism...Autistic children--and there are many different ranges here--are known to repeatedly indulge in repetitve beahviors...or it could be something emotional or psychological--is your son going through a particularly stressful time right now? When he engages in these behaviors is there any common pattern? Who is he around? What was he doing before and then afterwards? (before and after the beahvior begins). Are you spending enough time talking to your son about his life--he may have things going on that he needs to talk about--I would also suggest taking him to a child psychologist if it persists and once he gets clearnace from a medical professional...
Good Luck...And be glad that you are noticing this--so many parents don't...
2007-02-04 14:44:20 · answer #6 · answered by Shay 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Is he shaking when he is talking or concentrating or does he shake anytime? It could simply be a coexisting behavior because he is concentrating so hard. However, I would check with your pediatrician - just to rule out everything and be on the safe side.
2007-02-02 08:01:39 · answer #7 · answered by rachie 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
my nephew has ticks like that, they come and go. he makes faces, blinks hard, etc. his doctor is not concerned because it is infrequent.
it may be nothing but you know in your heart you need to have a doctor check it out to be sure it's not something serious. you have to find out for sure.
Best of luck!
2007-02-04 18:13:36 · answer #8 · answered by ~Biz~ 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Take him to his Pediatrician so that he can refer you to a Specialist in Child Development.
2007-02-01 23:53:20 · answer #9 · answered by Tonya W 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
dont rely here for your son's health, it might be a sign of serious illness or something, seek a professional help. they can check and diagnose what is wrong w/him.
2007-02-01 22:49:25 · answer #10 · answered by fc 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋