Hi all - sorry I took a step back from the computer and didn't realize there were more answers from this board.. thank you so much for your support!!!
Regarding the psych- he is a really nice, calm man who is very positive. He actually was recovering from an illness when I was talking with him, so I think that was part of it. My DS likes him and he is apparently really really good at what he does. He also believes that most things are developmental, so treat the issues in front of you as necessary and don't worry about all the other stuff as it often changes. The trick is to get them through the tough parts until their brain chemistry catches up (asynchrony again).
My son is 10 and has had tics probably since 1st grade, although we were told they were normal and he would grow out of them. The psych says he does not believe that DS has actual tourettes because the tics don't change often enough but he is still on the spectrum of chronic tics and recently they have been really really bad- bad enough that they have been affecting his self esteem. I took him on a field trip with a gifted homeschooler group and he ticced (coughed) the entire time. Thank goodness they were who they were, they didn't bat an eyelash and the other kids on the trip were fantastic. I am so grateful to those people.
But I can't imagine what it must be like to have to tic for hours at a time, in front of others who don't, and who don't understand it...
My understanding is that tic disorders don't really correlate to giftedness either, however they can turn a gifted kid into a 2E kid...also the comorbid conditions of OCD and ADHD can be related to OEs...
Despite all this, he is happy, likes his teacher (even if he is still complaining about school being boring) has a best friend, and so if I can help him through this I feel like he will be in a good place.
I may try the supplements, I think Irena on this board mentioned epsom salt baths.. the only problem is my son won't take them. Also one of his tics is picking at his skin so he has several sores on his arms and legs
which I don't know if ES would hurt -so supplements may be a good way of getting those minerals into him.
