New to ADHD & question about tics | ADHD Information

Yes it is without meds. I haven't agreed to the meds yet and now when I'm ready to my son's pediatrician, who also has ADHD says he won't condone it until he's in trouble 90% of the time at home and at school!

Anyway, it's a bit of a relief to hear other mothers have had the same issue, I was unaware that this could happen.

I went to school with a kid with Tourrette's but, his tics and things were a bit extreme I guess. I didn't know it could be as mild as just blinking, sniffing, etc. I will have to look that up either by finding some previous posts or seeing what I can find on the internet.

Thanks so much for the response, I really appreciate it.

My son is 11 but he has had small anxiety tics since he was in kintergarden. They have always been small and east to deal with. he is on meds for the anxiety. He is also on meds for ADHD. Until we found the right med the tics were worse. now that we are on Concerta 36mg, Zoloft 50mg the mix seem to work. with out it he is a troubled child. he also has Adjustment disorder and depression as well as the anxiety. meltdowns are a way of life without the meds. Good luck on your journey!

My son is young, he's only four and a half. When he was three was the first time that I was approached about him needing meds to just slow down. I blew the doctors off over and over again, until for some reason I kept running into parents here and there that kept telling me how much my son reminded them of their child before medication.

Anyway, I've finally faced this and decided to deal with it instead of living in denial. We go see a specialist in two months but, in the mean time I'm trying to find out as much as I can to help ALL of us figure out how to deal with this.

So, my question is this - do any of your children have weird tics?

My son started out swiping his nose over and over again. Then it was tugging at articles of clothing, then it was this constant sniffing - not sniffing things, just sniffing continuously, that one drove me nuts! Now he's like blinking or squinting for no reason.

I've casually asked him about this and he can't tell me why he does it. Is this a normal thing for them to do?

I should mention that he also has OCD and SPD (sensory processing disorder). I've asked other moms of kids with OCD and I don't think one mom told me that their child did these kinds of things. I know SPD kids don't. So, this is my last resort.

If this is a "normal" thing for them to do, how do I help him? Can I help him?

Thanks for your time,

Are these tics with no meds? If so, do you think he could have tourettes? That is the only thing that comes to mind when tics occur but no meds are being used.

there are children with both adhd and tourettes, or one or the other, or both and more, etc. Mothers have posted on these boards about it.

What do you think?

My son has ADHD and also has tics. I noticed the tics before I knew he had ADHD. In fact that was what I took him to the doctor for and he was diagnosed with ADHD once I went into all the problems I was having with him. His tics started about about age three. He would blink his eyes alot and put his left ear on his shoulder. He would also make a noise and pull on his clothes. The tics weren't really bad but they still worried me. The pediatrician said that tics with ADHD were common but most ADHD medications would make them worse. So just know that it is normal for kids with ADHD to have tics. But I don't know of anything to help them. My pediatrician said Strattera was the only ADHD medicine that wouldn't make tics worse but he was 8 when he was put on it. It did help him though for a while. Your son might be too young for it. My son is now 11 and hardly ever has problems with tics. They have improved alot even once the Strattera stopped working. Every once in awhile I will catch him doing them but not often. So just stay encouraged. Good luck.

JandDsmom,

There are mothers on these boards with children that have what your son has going on. He is young, you are on top of things early. By the time he gets to kindergarten, you should be where you need to be.

I too would be worried, probably crying, and worrying for the future as well. we are alike!! I have been doing that since my son's diagnosis. I know how you feel, believe me.

He needs an IEP when he enters kindergarten, have you heard of that yet? We can help you with that as well.

Don't fret, you are here and among friends. We will help you and hold your hand when needed. Just let us know!!

Well we got back from the doc's office earlier today. He's sending us to a nuerologist and barring any unforseen issues, he says it's Tourette's. So, thanks again for all the heads up. I've found over the numerous diagnosed issues I do better when I'm prepared for what they're going to say.

Now, we're just waiting for a collegue of the doc's to get back to him on what he feels the best course of treatment would be for my son.

I'm still a little numb and ticked off. I just am starting to feel like his life is going to be nothing but a bunch of letters (ADHD, OCD, SPD) and diagnosis' (abdominal migraines, Tourette's). I know that's not a very cheery attitude to have but, it's not been a good day and I guess I'm just worried for how his life is going to go. He's so young yet.

Anyway, thanks again for the heads up!

Hi,

My son was just diagnosed with Tourette's, but I've suspected it for a long time (since about age 3 or 4) -- even before official ADHD diagnosis. Started with the eye blinking and progressed from there (even before starting Ritalin), now at 13 started with the vocal tics.

I've ready alot of information and so far I don't think that the ADHD medication has anything to do with the tics. My son's tics are actually worse when not on his Ritalin, believe it or not. I've read other information that the research on the stimulants and tics issue was not from a complete study, and there are doctors who do not believe the stimulants increase tics.

Generally someone will not diagnose Tourette's until you have had the different tics (and they change all of the time) for at least a year, and you also have vocal tics. Often, an official diagnosis doesn't come until adolescence. Some things I was surprised were considered a tic (like lip licking). The tsa-usa website has some great information and links on Tourette's. You may want to consider a consult with a neurologist on the tics, or you may want to just do some research and hold off on getting a diagnosis if it's not affecting his quality of life.

Many kids with Tourette's have co-morbid conditions such as ADHD or OCD. The tics are not from the ADHD -- they are from the Tourette's. I don't believe that ADHD causes tics.

This is just my opinion from my personal experiences and the hours and hours of research I've done over the last few months.

Good luck with your son.

If you are looking for any Tourette's web links you can PM me - I'm not sure what the rules are for posting links in this forum.

Colleen

Cosake, your post is very informative. It sounds like you have a great handle on things for your son.

May I ask, did anything change when puberty began? My son is going on 12, does not have tourettes, just adhhhhhd and anxiety. I know all are different when it comes to things, just trying to learn as much as I can.

Thank you!!

Thank you. We are working on it. We see a psychologist tomorrow to see about helping us get some accommodations from the school on homework, etc. That is the hardest part -- the school doesn't believe he has problems because he gets good grades. But, we spend 4-5 hours some nights on homework -- too much for a 13 year old.

I haven't noticed anything different so far, but I don't think he's really hit puberty yet. It's hard also because I don't know what behaviors are "normal" for a 13-year old boy, and what behaviors may be from the ADHD and Tourette's.

This is a great place to learn and be open to other's experiences and opinions on things.

Yes, my son has ADHD only and he does stuff like this. It comes and goes and his psychiatrist said is not unusual. I simply tell him to stop, over and over and over. And eventually he does. He did this exaggerated eye blinking, then sleeve chewing, then coughing--over the past 4 years, one at a time. We just keep on him. He stopped the first two and now the coughing has been reduced to throat clearing. my son was 4 when he was diagnosed adhd. he would chew on his shirt and wipe his nose before he was medicated. he has had his med changed a couple of times since he is 7 now. i am having to stop his vvaynse 40 mg now for it is causing him to sniff his nose alot which is very annoying and loud making him stand out in class , then he started blinking alot and rolling his eyes back and twitching his neck to one side and snulling his mouth. so now we will wait to see if they go away to make sure its the meds. then go from there. he did concerta 36mg but stop working but 54mg may be too strong so they went vvaynse. medidate was ok but stopped working. so dr. mentioned stratta. see next week. don't give up, it gets better my son started w/ the a neck tick since he was 2, and still has it to this day (age 7) it is alot less noticable but it still does happen. WE have not had any increase in ticks and my son is on adderall xr. He is ADHD and gifted. I also suspect he is a high anxiety child but his pysch. wont give him that type of diagnosis yet. Our lives w/o meds are a constant blur of mood swings and melt downs.