Is this a "tic"? | ADHD Information

sounds like an anxiety issue to me, have you spoken with his doc about it?

I agree, it could be some anxiety/stress. My son has both, as well as sensory issues.  My son is horrible with gum, always playing with it. The OT recommends it but it doesn't really work in school. I let him have it when he is home and asks. My son also used to chew on his shirt, right where he can put it in his mouth, the part under his chin. This lead to lots of holes! I would say something when I saw him doing it or the wet mark on his shirt. He has since stopped. Every NOW and THEN I may see that wet mark, but not like before!

Could be. My daughter always has her hands to her face. Worse on her stimulants. Does he have any Sensory issues? Kids with sensory processing issues can be very "oral". Gum helps.................a lot! Sugraless Bazooka .

 

I'm not sure it would be considered a "tic", but my daughter is what I call very "twitchy" when we are on certain stimulants. They say due to increased anxiety. She does develop tics also, eye blinking mostly.

Yeah, gum does help, unfortunately school and daycare does not allow it!  I'm trying to make them give in a little...  My son has always been very "oral", he drooled NON STOP as a baby and everything goes in his mouth.  Before he was on meds, he would chew on his shirt, he'd chew so bad he'd literally go through a shirt a day, one wear and I'd have to trash it.  Once he was on meds, it mostly stopped.  Now that he's been on Daytrana for a few days though I've noticed that his fingers are constantly in his mouth, either biting his nails or chewing on his fingers or even SUCKING HIS THUMB!!  Is this a tic or is he stressed?  Any thoughts on this or what to do about it?  Its pretty gross, I mean he's a normal 6 year old boy, his hands are always filthy lol  My son has recently started to blink a lot and chew on his arm in school. I think it is stress but could it be something else?yes it could be a tic. My daughter had a blinking tic. Does he take a stimulant?He does not take any meds. But his teacher is awful and he is really upset about school.

I agaree with DianeV

This sure sounds like anxiety to me! I bet that school AND the teacher are causing it. You mentioned that the teacher was horrible, in what way?

Is your son diagnosed with adhd or do you suspect it? Do you think there are any sensory issues as well?

Poor little guy!

Stay on top of that teacher and how she is treating your son!!!

I feel the shirt chewing is anxiety. The blinking is a motor tic.  4th and 5th grade were the height of my son's shirt chewing days.....all anxiety related.  Anything to reduce the stress at school should help this.  Have you tried giving him a stress ball?  Its a vicious cycle with tics and anxiety.  Anxiety worsens tics.

Try to pinpoint one or two really high stress situations at school (ex.  taking spellings tests, recess, whatever.....) and talk with the teacher about changing something to reduce the stress.  For example......my son went to his speech therapist to take one on one spelling tests without the pressure of doing it in class. Go over the teacher's head if she is unwilling or uncooperative to help.

Okiemom

anxiety can cause tics. I would talk to his doctor. Does he have a therapist or psychiatrist?

For many of these types of "tics" for people who haven't had them prior to meds - can't they simply be from the stimulant (just think of people on some illegal drugs - the picking, chewing lips, etc.)? I think it's just so hard to decipher whether it's this or that, and anxiety is definitly prevelant with these kids because of the obstacles they face.

I've been researching and looking into as much facts and info I can preparing for my son's appt with a dev. ped. and I'm about ready to fall over from dizziness!

Everyone INSISTS the tics are not directly caused by the stimulants. I dont believe it for a second. My daughter has ONLY had tics during two periods of her life. once while taking Focalin 2 years ago and just recently on Ritalin. In BOTH situations the tics went away as soon as I stopped the medication. Both times. She does have anxiety issues so it could be that the increase anxiety with the stim cause the tics, but it is directly related to her taking the stim. both times they were bad enough that we had to come off. Some kids it is manageable. Our situation is not so.The studies support that stimulants do not cause tics, BUT studies talk in statistics and there are always the 5% individuals that are not part of the 95% statistics in the study. Also, it is thought that the stims may unmask tics or increase anxiety with can start a tic.