tourette's/ tics?

Question

my boyfriends son is 12 years old, he gets spazms which he says happen about once or twice a week that he has no control over, i noticed when he was younger that he would shout for no apparent reason not sware words just loud noises, should he be taken to a doctors about this or is it ok to not make a big deal about it? i wouldnt want him to worry about it and make it worse

could his spazms be caused by e numbers in food? or somthing simlar

Answer 1

definitely go to the doctors - if it is tourettes then there are several ways which he can be helped - e.g. therapy and medication. equally it could be something else, which he might grow out of. take him to get this sorted and then you wont be worrying. good luck

Answer 2

Both. Take him to the doctor AND don't make a big deal out of it. If it is Tourettes, there is not too much you can do. There are medications that can lessen the severity of tics, but ALL medications for TS patients are hit and miss. You (unfortunately) have to try something to see if it works. Not all medications have the same effect for everyone.

My son has Tourettes, OCD and ADHD. He is allowed to tic at home without comment from others. He is loved and accepted completely. He still has chores and homework, just like everybody else. He is still treated with the same love and discipline as every one else. We just don't punish him for tics (they are out of his control). He is 12 and has been diagnosed since he was 9.

If you do decide to take him to the doc, have him see a Pediatric Neurologist. Take notes and if you can, video tape him while the tics are very obvious. This information will help just in case the tics are not present at the prescribed day and time of the appointment. You might have to ask your sons pediatrician for a referral to a Pediatric Neurologist. A general MD is not qualified to diagnose this complex neurological disorder. You/your boyfriend must advocate for your child. No one else will.

You are right not to make him worry about it. Stress increases tics. I doubt food can make a difference. Tourettes is Neurological, or to be more specific, Neurobiological. Think of it this way: his software is fine (learning aptitude, ability to function) but his hardware is wired incorrectly and causes tics.

I will take a guess and say that your son is very smart. Most TS patients are! My son is artistically gifted, bright, loving, plays chess, scores as high as 124 on IQ tests, but is also in Special Education! Go figure! I would not trade him for the world.

More information here: http://www.tsa-usa.org

Answer 3

It really sounds like Tourette Syndrom, but to milder degree as in many cases spasms/ticks or noises are hapenning almost continuously. I am surprised that boys parents didn't have him diagnosed and possibly spare him of social problems he may have in school and later on. I cannot think of any employer/employees who would tolerate "loud noises or swearing" at any given time, if there would be medication to block the "ticks".

I would suggest that you search Google for "Turret syndrom forum" and find some specialized website which have discussion group dealing with this topis. There are many parents and many those aflicted with this illness on these forums who can give you best advice, based on their life experience, knowing what is available to help this boy,.
Good luck.


Tourette's is a spectrum disorder, with some people having a few tics and others having tics plus features of other conditions such as obsessions, compulsions, inattention, impulsivity, mood variability.

Answer 4

I think he should be checked by a doctor.
Any kind of spazm that you have no control over should be checked out by a doctor.
It is not normal and although the child should not be worried because he is used to it, their is medicine that may be able to control it. If it was to happen in school, I am sure that his peers would be wondering about him doing this.

Answer 5

Any child can engage in behaviour that is undesirable or inappropriate. Indeed, some "inappropriate" behaviours are characteristic of developmental stages and are therefore "appropriate" develop mentally

When a child or adolescent has been diagnosed as having a neuro behavioural condition, however, parents and teachers may find themselves falling into the morass of trying to determine whether what they're seeing is voluntary behaviour or a symptom of the child's condition and whether to or how to attempt to modify it.
Get a qualified doctor to see him as they will know after keeping him under observation if it is tourette's/ tics or behaviour problems

Answer 6

Actually only about 1% of people with Tourettes's syndrome actually shout curse words, they usually just have tics or shout or "emote" at inapproproate times. It's just that the cursing is memorable, that's why people associate it with Tourette's. I know plenty of people who curse unnecessarily or at inappropriate times (watch any Hollywood PG or R movie).

Answer 7

He should be taken to a doctor and/or psychologist who can help diagnose whatever is going on with him. While the tics may not be a problem now, they may be worsened as he grows older and end up being detrimental to him socially, mentally, and emotionally. It's better to work on them now while they are still mild before they end up isolating him as a teen.

Good luck with everything!

Answer 8

i understand what you advise, my brothers in basic terms all started after an afternoon of school attempt to loosen up and don't do something that'll shop the ideas too loopy (like video games, pc, stuff like that)

Answer 9

I know of no treatment for this condition at this time.

Answer 10

Just slap him around a little bit until he stops. that will show him you dont play games