Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Twice Exceptional Tics - questions...

Hi everyone!

I can't tell you how helpful this community has been so far

I did a search through this forum for "tic" and found that several people have posted about their kids having tics. We are new to this and I have some questions. DS just turned 5 and developed a few tics in the past few weeks:
-sniffing (but this actually goes on year round bc of bad allergies)
-intermittent humming sound
-blinking a lot
-a throat noise from time to time
-mouth stretching which morphed into a gasp sound
-most recently a quick lick of the fingers or hand (yuck!)
He has no diagnosis but is in the HG range I believe and is quirky but not enough to seek an evaluation until the tics arrived. This time of year with allergies is HORRIBLE for him and I feel somewhat strongly there is a connection with the tic onset and allergy season. Doc is on board with increasing his hydroxyzine (antihistamine) and he is also on:
-probiotic
-good multi
-B complex gummy
-magnesium
-"Tic Tamer" which is homeopathic and not really working at all
-Omega 3.6.9 Nordic Naturals
Has had tics now for 2 1/2 weeks

My questions:
1. Is there any connection to tics and gifted kids?
2. Any others have experience with a tic-allergy connection?
3. Anyone have experience with 5yo vaccines and tic onset?
4. Does anyone have any advice for me at this early stage?
5. If I go to a ped neurologist what would they do?
6. If anyone has had success with fish oil did they use a higher dosage than what is recommended on the bottle?

SO sorry this is so long. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ANY INPUT!

Tics are common amoung many boys. I have noticed that several of us have mentioned tics and gifted. You need to begin to record when these different tics begin. If it is tourettes( my son's dx) there has to be a history of at least a year of tics being present. Try to note when and where, is it in stressful situations, or very relaxed. They though my sons initial tics were due to allergies as well. The motor tics and mouth stretching are not typical of allergies. Right now my son is on no meds but the school has an IEP to accomadate his ticcing in class.

Our DS 7 has tics, kind of scary for us a parents. They seem to come and go, and may be stress related. Change in enviroment may be one trigger for them. He had an eye rolling one, that progresivly became worse then faded away. Next came lip moving, still kind of their but now not very often. We did see a ped neirologist. (Tics where not showing much that week) He stated it was just tics and thier was nothing they could do. Most out grow it. Not easy for us as parents to hear, especially because these where facial tics and may make him stand out in school. To our surprise school hardley noticed. We still are expecting some new ones to develop in the future. I also noticed that both tics seemed to start with an OCD type of behavior. The eye rolling came about because of his hair getting in his eyes. Even after the hair cut the behavior continued. The lip moving, after chapped lips. And even some head rolling a few yeras back with, long hair again. I am not sure if any of this helps, the good news is that it did slow down and somewhat go away over time. I hope this helps. His typical time frame for a tic was about 2 months.

Yes this is called the waxing and waning of tics. The tics may evolve and change over time. Edwin it sounds like your son has motor tics. If tics become severe, which they can there are meds to address the different components whether OCD, tics, or ADHD elements. It is a matter of what is the biggest issue. They do believe that many kids either stop or slow ticcing in late teens. The worst is usually between 8 and 12. Oh yeah my son is 9 next month.