XP: Any other children with tics?

Jsthomas618

My DD is about 2 1/2, will be 3 in May.  About 9 months to a year ago, she developed a "gasping" noise like she's over-excited, makes it multiple times per day, especially when she's playing or wound up.  I chalked it up to her excitable personality and it quited down for a while, but it's been weighing more heavily on my mind since re-appearing about 3-4 weeks ago.  I spoke to the nurse at the pedi's office and they said that a tic like that isn't a cause for alarm and the new baby in the house may have brought it's re-emergence on.  However, over the last week I've also been noticing repeated, forceful blinking.  I'd like to think it's because of the dry air, but I'm worried it's a new tic.  Anybody else deal with tics like these?  To what extent have you been told it's normal?  How have they played out for you?  I'm stressing myself that's it's the onset of something more significant like Tourette's. 

KatFCo

Yes, our daughter developed tics around that age. Our family has Tourette's in it and those without Tourettes have a few tics, so I made sure to mention it to the doctor. I was told it's very normal in kids this age, especially more in girls. They should grow out of it by 4 or 5 (DD is 4.5 and I haven't noticed much of anything).

Some of DD's also turned out to be allergies, especially sniffing, snorting, etc. Next time you go, ask them to check her nasal passages to see if they're inflamed. DD was put on Flonase and it's done wonders for her.

If she doesn't grow out of it by between 5-7, you could mention it again, but there's not a whole lot to do about it.

zoe_cat

My DD had the eye blinking thing when she was around 2 1/2.  It was like she was blinking really hard and deliberately.  We took her to the doctor and he said to ignore it and it went away within a week or so.  So far she hasn't developed any other tics.  I have also heard that stress can bring them on, so it does seem quite possible that it is related to a new baby in the house.  Good luck, hopefully it is just a short phase.

Harper'smom

zoe_cat:

My DD had the eye blinking thing when she was around 2 1/2.  It was like she was blinking really hard and deliberately.  We took her to the doctor and he said to ignore it and it went away within a week or so.  So far she hasn't developed any other tics.  I have also heard that stress can bring them on, so it does seem quite possible that it is related to a new baby in the house.  Good luck, hopefully it is just a short phase.

 

This exact thing started with DD during the holidays. It is pretty much gone now. 

Mrs.Wubbin

My older dd developed an eye blinking tic around the same age. I spoke to an OT friend who mentioned that it was likely sensory seaking behavior and that she was craving proprioceptive input. We taught her to chew gum, which meets that sensory need, and the tic disapeared.