DawnM Posted July 21, 2011 Share Posted July 21, 2011 I don't know where this is coming from, but my 7 year old has started constantly making some odd noise with his throat. It is like a sigh, but odd. We have told him to STOP and he says, "I can't help it. I HAVE to make the noise." We have tried quite a few things to get it to STOP. It is annoying and we can't get reading done while he is making this odd noise every few minutes. What is the deal? It is like a tick I suppose, but how do I get him to stop? Dawn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lailasmum Posted July 21, 2011 Share Posted July 21, 2011 My dd had a throat clearing tic for years, only got rid of it by constantly reminding her she is doing it. It comes back every now and then but not permanently it seems. I know how annoying that constant weird noise is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardening momma Posted July 21, 2011 Share Posted July 21, 2011 Dd7 has been making this snort/grunt sound ever since she had a cold several weeks ago. With persistence on our part, regularly reminding her to stop, and talking about how it's a bad habit, she's been able to almost completely stop. She is able to go a week or more without doing it, and then occasionally one slips out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twoforjoy Posted July 21, 2011 Share Posted July 21, 2011 Dd7 has been making this snort/grunt sound ever since she had a cold several weeks ago. With persistence on our part, regularly reminding her to stop, and talking about how it's a bad habit, she's been able to almost completely stop. She is able to go a week or more without doing it, and then occasionally one slips out. My DS7 did the same thing this winter! He had a bad cold, and then for about a month afterwards, he kept making this snort sound. It was driving us insane. After reminding him he was doing it about a million times, he finally stopped. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
********* Posted July 21, 2011 Share Posted July 21, 2011 I don't know where this is coming from, but my 7 year old has started constantly making some odd noise with his throat. It is like a sigh, but odd. We have told him to STOP and he says, "I can't help it. I HAVE to make the noise." We have tried quite a few things to get it to STOP. It is annoying and we can't get reading done while he is making this odd noise every few minutes. What is the deal? It is like a tick I suppose, but how do I get him to stop? Dawn This is just what *we* do, so, you know, YMMV. Zee has transient tic disorder. If he has tics that are annoying (and he does get some that drive me batty sometimes), I will just, as gently as I can, point out to him when he's doing it, so that he's aware. But, we also talk about how I know that he doesn't want to do his tics, and how there's nothing *wrong* with him doing them, etc. We also encourage him to pray and ask the Lord to help him if his tics are bothering him, or come ask mommy or daddy to pray with him. Likely, your ds will stop on his own. The only thing I suggest is that if you do point the tic out to him, do it in a very generic, non-offensive, merely transfering information sort of way. I don't want anyone, *anyone*, to make my Zee feel badly about his tics, so I am very careful with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dsmith Posted July 21, 2011 Share Posted July 21, 2011 Sounds like it could be a tic. If it is, it is cruel to try to get the child to stop. Tics can come and go, and they often change. Some kids have a short period of tics and they never come back, and others have them all their lives. Sometimes drawing attention to it can make it worse. Maybe check with your pediatrician to see if it is really a tic or not. My son has a throat clearing tic, and sometimes it happens every 5 seconds. It drives him crazy when it is that frequent. It can be annoying to me if I am working on something, but I would never ever let him know that.:001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EKS Posted July 21, 2011 Share Posted July 21, 2011 I agree with the others who think it could be a tic. You can't really stop tics. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RahRah Posted July 21, 2011 Share Posted July 21, 2011 it does sound like a vocal tic - DS occasionally will get one going and it can be totally annoying, but it's hard to make it stop. What I've found helps him is to gently make him aware he's doing it, ask him if he's conscious of it, if he isn't, ask if it feels better when he's doing it (cause now he is conscious of it) and he'll usually say 'yeah'.....then, when he does it again, gently remind him of it and have him breath deeply, relax, breath, relax....remind him gently that when he feels it coming on again, feeling better is good - try breathing deeply to relax instead of the tic. Within a day or two, with only a couple reminders, DS usually stops as he becomes aware of it and does deep breathing in its place and then stops that too. Usually it happens when kids feel stress - even if we don't think something is stressful - so helping them relax may help alleviate it without undue pressure on them to stop. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lady Lorna Posted July 21, 2011 Share Posted July 21, 2011 A persistent tic of longstanding may be a sign of an underlying disorder--Tourettes,for example, or OCD. If this is the case, the tic is not something your child can control without help, and it is probably making him miserable. My daughter has tics associated with OCD, and still has trouble with them from time to time. Talk therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and medication have helped. In case you are finding this discouraging, I should add that my daughter, who is nearly twenty, is one of the brightest and most accomplished young women I know. This is not the kind of problem that a pediatrician can handle, but he or she can refer you to a specialist. Hopefully, this is just a temporary compulsion, but if not, the sooner it is addressed, the better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plucky Posted July 21, 2011 Share Posted July 21, 2011 It's a tic, be gentle with kiddo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest thevinelady Posted July 21, 2011 Share Posted July 21, 2011 My son has had blinking, snorting, throat clearing, and head/shoulder twitching tics through out the last 6 years, he is now 12. All have come and gone and normally last from 2 weeks to a month. We are currently tic free now for almost 2 years. I whole heartedly believe in reminding the child when they are doing it, encourage them to take a few seconds or minutes relaxing. This is not abnormal, they are not weird, many kids struggle with anxiety and tics, we just need to learn to work through this difficult period and let them pass. I am not saying that all tics can be stopped, as I know some people have a life long disorder, but the majority of "tics" in children do pass. Don't panic (as I did with his first sign of tics). If your child has in the past or now shown signs of anxiety, a book I really like is Helping Your Anxious Child by Rapee, Spence, Cobham and Wignall. When he was 3 years to 6 years we struggled with him refusing to going outside if he saw a bee. Detective thinking (taught in the book) was VERY helpful for him to overcome fears. My sons tics are associated with anxiety, this book is helpful in understanding and coping with anxiety in children. Does not specifically help in tics, but it was useful to me in a general way. Oh, and I would also watch the diet. Do the tics get worse after eating certain foods? Blessings to you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NicAnn Posted July 21, 2011 Share Posted July 21, 2011 It's a tic, be gentle with kiddo. Yes, please be gentle with tics. My little brothers all have various degrees of tics and Tourette's and it is very upsetting to them for it to be commented on or tried to be fixed. And please don't let him know it's annoying you or someone else. Tics, even small ones, can be incredibly frustrating for the person having them, and knowing that others are annoyed by it only makes it worse (stress/embarrassment can make the tics worse). :grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mama2cntrykids Posted July 21, 2011 Share Posted July 21, 2011 It's a tic, be gentle with kiddo. :iagree:My youngest ds has a tic. He clears his throat and has been doing it since he was around three. While it can be annoying, I deal with it b/c that's how he is and I know he gets frustrated when I ask him to stop.:grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DawnM Posted July 21, 2011 Author Share Posted July 21, 2011 Well, I can be more gentle, but big brothers trying to read are not quite as courteous. :glare: Dawn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lolly Posted July 21, 2011 Share Posted July 21, 2011 7 is the typical age for tics to show up. Instruct big brothers on their behavior and discipline THEM if they can't handle it. Hopefully, not many more will show up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
QueenCat Posted July 21, 2011 Share Posted July 21, 2011 Well, I can be more gentle, but big brothers trying to read are not quite as courteous. :glare: Dawn Often, with a tic, the more it is pointed out, the harder they try to suppress it, but end up with the opposite affect. If it's a tic, brothers will have to learn to ignore, go to another room, whatever, but not agitate.... at least that's what older ds had to do when younger ds's tics were annoying. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justasque Posted July 21, 2011 Share Posted July 21, 2011 Well, I can be more gentle, but big brothers trying to read are not quite as courteous. :glare:Dawn Perhaps they can be gently pulled aside and educated about tics. Stress and embarrassment make them worse. Anyone with a tic would really really like to not have the tic. Awareness can help, but nagging does not, and any kind of negativity is just rude. It can help to explain that it's like an itch, which you can avoid scratching for a little while if you really work at it, but that eventually you just have to scratch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trish Posted July 21, 2011 Share Posted July 21, 2011 We went through something similar with DS when he was 7-8. I asked the pediatrician about it, and he said it's common in this age group and would likely go away on its own. It did. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
angela in ohio Posted July 21, 2011 Share Posted July 21, 2011 Two of my dc have had this. If it very common for children to have tics,a nd as long as the same one doesn't last longer than six months or so, it's fine. My oldest always had one, but they would change, so our family doctor was comforatable not getting her diagnosed with anything, but considered it a normal part of development. My sil had my nephew diagnosed, but he is in school, so it was necessary. We told her to stop, and she worked hard to stop. She would be tic free for a while, and then another would start. It was always something she was doing that then became an obsession (snoffing/snorting instead of blowing her nose, pushing her glasses up, etc.) Gentle reminders did the trick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbemom Posted July 21, 2011 Share Posted July 21, 2011 My dd had a throat clearing tic for years, only got rid of it by constantly reminding her she is doing it. It comes back every now and then but not permanently it seems. I know how annoying that constant weird noise is. :iagree: Both of my kids have had tics and bringing ANY attention to it makes it worse for them. So, all I can suggest is grin and bear it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardening momma Posted July 21, 2011 Share Posted July 21, 2011 There is a balance, though. Sometimes it's not a tic and is a bad habit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lisa in Jax Posted July 21, 2011 Share Posted July 21, 2011 Low magnesium might be related to tics, so adding magnesium can sometimes help tics. Consider either epsom salts (Magnesium sulfate) baths (1/2-1 cup dissolved in a comfortably hot bath, and soak 20+ minutes, then rinse and wash) or magnesium supplements. Be aware that ingested magnesium can cause diarrhea, so don't give too much oral mag. Lisa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lailasmum Posted July 21, 2011 Share Posted July 21, 2011 I think my dd's was brought on by the anxiety of gaining a little brother, I think its just her response to stress, she isn't bothered by it being pointed out to her, no one has teased her about it. She had it a good couple of years from about 3 years old, doctor wasn't worried by it, then for a year it came and went but has been totally gone for a while. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HollyM Posted August 10, 2011 Share Posted August 10, 2011 We went through something similar with DS when he was 7-8. I asked the pediatrician about it, and he said it's common in this age group and would likely go away on its own. It did. Ditto. It looks scary to the parent though, been there, done that. The neurologist we saw when this started also told us to ignore it completely. It is an involuntary act that really can not be helped. Most of the time it is outgrown as was the case with our son (now 11.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest submarines Posted August 10, 2011 Share Posted August 10, 2011 Well, I can be more gentle, but big brothers trying to read are not quite as courteous. :glare: Dawn The big brothers are old enough to understand what tics are, and that their behavior can exacerbate the condition. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JulieH Posted August 10, 2011 Share Posted August 10, 2011 Yes, please be gentle with tics. My little brothers all have various degrees of tics and Tourette's and it is very upsetting to them for it to be commented on or tried to be fixed. And please don't let him know it's annoying you or someone else. Tics, even small ones, can be incredibly frustrating for the person having them, and knowing that others are annoyed by it only makes it worse (stress/embarrassment can make the tics worse). :grouphug: I agree with others..PLEASE be gentle. Anxiety will just exaccerbate it. My brother has Tourrette's and his "odd noises" and head twitches "annoyed" my father and he got in severe trouble all. the. time. as a child. It is heart breaking to think about. It actually REALLY screwed him up into his adult life. He couldn't help it and they got him no help for it, even though he had an official Tourrette's diagnosis. I also know another little boy who is ds's friend who has Tourrettes and does the same thing. If it doesn't resolve on it's own, consult a professional to find out how you can help him and please please , hard as it may be, try to be patient and gentle with him. Getting upset will only make him more anxious and do it more, unintentionally. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coffeefreak Posted August 10, 2011 Share Posted August 10, 2011 Could it be allergies? I have HORRIBLE allergies and did throat clearing until my mother couldn't stand it anymore. Then, I did a sighing sort of thing because it helped. Have you taken him to a physician and had it checked out? It wasn't till I was an adult that I stopped, and only because I have a fabulous allergist. Blessings! Dorinda Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DawnM Posted August 10, 2011 Author Share Posted August 10, 2011 No, this is not allergies. Is it a tic if the child CAN control it outside of the home? He doesn't make a peep in outside social situations. He has stopped making the noise as much at home too, but I started thinking about it, and he can go for HOURS at other events (scouts, church, etc...) and not make the noise. Dawn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farrar Posted August 10, 2011 Share Posted August 10, 2011 I'm not sure if it's a tic or not... In any case, I've taught kids with tics in my teaching days and they *can* do things to limit or change them. I would approach it as a sensory integration thing and give him something else to do instead. Something less annoying. I feel like that's a gentle way to say, hey, I get it that you need to do something, but let's see if we can make it something that won't make everyone crazy. Validates it and changes it. May not work, but I think that's worth a try. Would he be served by chewing gum or popping tic-tacs (no pun intended there!) instead? Or maybe by having something to chew on. This might sound strange, but my boys both have teething bling - one of them wears his and chews on it or fiddles with it when he's concentrating. I got them when they were getting their 6 yo molars and began acting like toddlers putting everything in their mouths. But it's useful for other stuff now too - my boy who wears his has a bad picking at his cuticles habit and when he does it I say, "play with your chewy necklace instead" and it helps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mom2scouts Posted August 10, 2011 Share Posted August 10, 2011 My son does that and the pedi said its a tic. He told us to try to ignore it because bringing attention to it just increases anxiety and makes it worse. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest submarines Posted August 10, 2011 Share Posted August 10, 2011 No, this is not allergies. Is it a tic if the child CAN control it outside of the home? He doesn't make a peep in outside social situations. He has stopped making the noise as much at home too, but I started thinking about it, and he can go for HOURS at other events (scouts, church, etc...) and not make the noise. Dawn Does the noise correlate to any activities that he finds stressful or anxiety inducing? Tics are usually more frequent when one is more stressed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carrieann Posted August 10, 2011 Share Posted August 10, 2011 My older son has bouts of random tics from time to time. I thought he had something wrong and took him to the pediatrician's office. His doctor assured me that it was a normal thing and it would eventually go away, which it did. Now when my younger son starts with some random weird noise I just have to learn to ignore it and eventually it stops. Gotta love little boys and all the fun crazy stuff that comes with raising them!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Haiku Posted August 10, 2011 Share Posted August 10, 2011 I had a tic in middle school. The more people commented on it, the worse it got. If it's a concern, visit your pediatrician for advice, but commenting on it and trying to force him to stop will just make the situation worse. Tara Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kewb Posted August 10, 2011 Share Posted August 10, 2011 My son has various tics that come and go. They are a byproduct of his trichotillomania. He takes a dose of 5HTP and Inositol powder daily. When I stay on top of him to take it the tics are dramatically reduced. When the symptoms are at their worst he keeps a journal of when he is doing it and for how long. It helps him to be aware of the situation. Here is the most important (and most difficult) thing to do. Do not be the tic police. You want to be but you can't. He has to want to stop. No amount of reminding, prodding, threatening, etc. will get him to stop and will probably make it worse. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thowell Posted August 10, 2011 Share Posted August 10, 2011 I am running out the door to the dentist so I didn't read the other replies. I wanted to tell you that when dd11 was around this age she made this horrible sound somewhere in her throat and nose. We ended up finding out that her tonsils and addnoids (spelling?) were way to big for her. She had them removed and the noise stopped. She also had alot of ear infections and very sensitive gag reflex until they were removed. Just FYI. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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