what is this? | ADHD Information

My son has been making vocal noises lately. In the past he would sing loudly and off key. That was annoying enough, but now he is making different sounds repetitively. He doesn't seem to do this at school. I notice it mostly when his medication is wearing off or he is not medicated. I don't know if this is some kind of tic. He doesn't have any physical tics. He has ADHD and Sensory Integration Disorder. I'm thinking that this is something that calms him or helps him focus. It was really annoying tonight while his was doing his homework. It drove the other kids crazy. I let him do it because he was getting his homework done at the same time. After he finished his homework it was time for his medicine. I gave him 45 minutes to go play with his friend since his written homework was finished.  His friend was not able to play. When he came back in I told him if he was going to make those loud noises again, he would have to do it in his room. He is currently watching TV. He is not making the noises but he is making a much quieter noise by pushing air out through his clenched mouth.

He was upset when he came home from school. Again, I don't know if this is a calming, soothing mechanism or something else. I have appts with his ped, dev ped and a psychiatrist in March. I will bring this up then. This will be his 1st appt with a psychiatrist.

He is on the Daytrana Patch, Focalin in the evening, and Melatonin to help him sleep.

Any suggestions or insight would be appreciated.

Since I finished writing this he seems to have stopped. I think his meds have started working.
it does sort of sound like a tic. Anxiety can increase tics. He may be feeling increased anxiety when his meds start to wear off. I would for sure discuss with the doctor at his appointment. The noise are a form of 'stimming'.  It is a way for him to stay focused.  Think of it as singing out loud to the cd player while you are driving somewhere alone.  Same type of idea.

It could be either stimming or a tic, it sounds likea tic to me.

Why does he take focalin if he is already on a 12 hour med?

I agree with the other posters, but I do think it helps relax him, kind of soothe himself.

Did he tell you what upset him at school?

My son is also ADHD along with Sensory integration. He is on concerta and guanfacine. Only tic has been the clearing throat thing, which we ignore. It stops when the meds kick in.

I have the same question as ebson, why so many meds? isn't he fully covered with the patch?

Thanks for the replies. His patch wears off about 5PM. Put it on about 6AM. The Focalin is a short acting dose that helps get him through the evenings with Ot appointment, basketball, CCD and homework. My son has ADHD Combined. When he is not medicated he is a handful, very hyper and inattentive. It is very hard to get him to focus to do these activities.
At his last appointment the dev ped was concerned about anxiety/depression. He said to monitor it. Maybe that is what is causing it.
I don't know why he was in a bad mood. He didn't say. Usually it is his sensory issues that cause him to have a difficult day at school.  Too much talking, light, loud noises, clothes bothering him, etc.

A tic is involuntary right. I'm not sure if these are involuntary. If I say I am going to take away one of his privileges he usually stops if only for a few minutes.

I will try to get some answers from him as to why he does this. This is very hard. He is 9 yrs old and doesn't usually like talking about his behavior.

I imagine when we see the psychiatrist he will want to put him on an additional med for the anxiety/depression. I'm hoping not.

You know, I am extremely compassionate towards my son's ADHD. I don't even have to remind myself that he cannot help it. It is very hard, and yes he is just 9. I think you sound like a wonderful mother. He is lucky to have you. I am always talking with my son about how he feels, and how is school, because he won't tell me freely. He even waits weeks, a month to tell me when something bad has happened to him. It just really breaks my heart that our guys have to go through all this, including the meds that affect their eating, sleeping, etc.

Keep doing what you are doing. I still think it helps relax and soothe him. And the other kids will have to learn to cope with it. My daughter, younger by 20months, knows that when things "occur" it is because her brothers meds haven't kicked in yet, or have worn off and she too is compassionate, she realized he can't help it.

Keep up the good work!!

Thanks BethAnn. I try to be very understanding of his adhd. It can be hard on the other kids though. I usually remind them when his meds are wearing off or haven't kicked in yet. They can see the difference in him when he is medicated. He plays wonderfully with them when he is medicated. When he is not medicated he can barely take a joke, he is very easily frustrated. Of course, they think I let him get away with too much.

My son also tells me about things a week later. Then I will think "Oh, that is why he was so miserable last Monday."


tics can be controlled in the sense that if the person is aware they can "NOT" do it, but eventually it will happen. For example, my daughters tics were generally eye blinking, but if I brought it up, she'd be able to stop temporarily, but eventually would have to blink. Either way, I'd discuss with the doctor. Whether he's doing it as a stim or it's a tic, at home you can ignore, but if you see how disrupting it is to the family, if he starts doing it in class, it'll be a problem. Nice to know what you're facing if it gets worse. Either way, anxiety can increase, bit stimming and tics. Stimulants can increase anxiety..........unfortunately it's a vicous circle.Diane V, I will absolutely bring it up with the doc. I just hate to have to add another med, I was hesitant to start him on meds in the first place. When I saw the tremendous difference in his ability after I started the meds I felt better. If it comes to adding a new med for anxiety, I'm sure I will feel better if it is very helpful to him.

As far as I know he doesn't do this in class or out in public (not yet anyway). He used to chew on his shirt (mostly at home). He doesn't seem to be doing that right now. Maybe the vocal noises are replacing that as a soothing technique.

Thanks again everyone. This board has been a godsend. You have helped me hold on to my sanity and not give up.

It's funny every time I think things are getting better and looking up something new and different with my son happens. You get a handle on one problem area and another on pops up. Keeps life interesting.


Wow... I have nothing to offer, but my son does "mouth noises" too and he used to chew on his shirt... it's just nice knowing that he's not the only one who is doing these things.it may not be adding another med, but possible changing the one he is on now.

jigsaw, why do you think he'll add a med for depression/tics? My son's psychopharm. told us to just ignore is clearing throat "thing".

I just wonder if he really needs ANOTHER med?!

Bethann, I finally got the school to start testing him. He has difficulty writing and expressing his thoughts on paper. He rarely writes in his journal at school. If he does it is one or two sentences. Well apparently he writes such upbeat things in his journal (just kidding). He writes things like " I had the worse day of my life."  He can get easily and very upset when not medicated. Throw things, say mean things, get out of control (he does this only at home not in school). That is one of the reasons we are going to see the psychiatrist. You're right the doc may just change his meds.

I don't think of my son as depressed or overly anxious but, as I said he does not like to talk about his feelings or why he does things. I asked him last night why he was making the vocal noises. Did it make him feel better or help him calm down? He just said he did it because he wants too.

He needs to work on talking about his feelings and changing his behavior.

My son couldn't write at all either about what he was thinking or feeling, journal writes. They would get upset and have him stay and finish. This was 1st, 2nd, probably 3rd grade.  He was on an IEP and the TA would work with him to get him to express his thoughts.

He was never negative, sad, depressed when writing, he just couldn't think. The typical response, I don't know.

I think it is a maturity thing. Our ADHD'ers being on the immaturity side of it.

My son is in 5th grade and so far no complaints so he must have figured it out.

(I also help him with his at home journal writes) I find it gets him thinking. He is also comfortable with the two of us doing homework. I can get him motivated.

hang in there, it will get better as they get older. Our guys are just always going to be young for their age.

i agree, I don't think he is depressed, he probably doesn't even know what it is!! Do keep an eye on his emotions, like how he is easily upset. That could also be the meds.

I do know that everyday I ask him questions like, how did you sleep, how was school, is everything ok, stuff like that, everyday I do that! I just want to stay in touch with his feelings, since he keeps them to himself!!

This is typical ADHD behavior. I don't think it's a tic. It's the "H" in ADHD. It's a means of stimulating a brain that lacks dopamine. Same reason they wiggle in the seat -- to stay alert. ALL of the ADHD kids in my son's class do this. I know, because my son complains about them!!