We've been told not to call out our child on the tics. Ignore.

Obviously if they become disruptive at school, that's another matter. I've given the teacher permission to address it.

FYI we found giving DD chewing gum helps.

Anonymous wrote:1. Check for strep
2. Tell his teachers
3. Teach him to say, "I have tics."
4. Let him tic, unless you find they are associated with an underlying OCD (this happens), in which case get him exposure and response prevention therapy.

This is inaccurate. Most kids with Tourette Syndrome also have OCD. Cognitive Behavioral therapy can help in either case but that does not mean that tics are more easily controlled by kids with OCD. If you want to try to teach the child to control tics, you really need professional help. Do not try to use breathing techniques. You are only causing this child to feel more stress.

Also, checking for strep is not going to help much though it is a good idea top check. PANDAS is an auto immune reaction resulting from strep but getting rid of strep does not make it go away. I have one child with a TS diagnosis and one with a PANDAS diagnosis but they are really not that different.

1. Check for strep
2. Tell his teachers
3. Teach him to say, "I have tics."
4. Let him tic, unless you find they are associated with an underlying OCD (this happens), in which case get him exposure and response prevention therapy.

Anonymous wrote:I have had the same issue in my now 8 year old. Have them check blood titers for strep. An underlying strep infection can cause tics. The tics become a habit and may never really go away, but they come back stronger with strep and stress.

When we checked my tick-er for strep blood titers, she had them. Treated for strep and the tics lessened.

Agree. My DD has a throat clearing tic and its related to strep/PANDAS so check that if you haven't already.

Anonymous wrote:Why are you telling him to lie about his tics? I think that the best way to approach the questions is to educate people about what is going on.

This. Don't teach him to lie about them (as that's also teaching him to be ashamed of them). Teachers should be made aware that he has tics and what they look like, and he shouldn't be scolded for them in school.

OP, I just wanted to add that when we finally told my DD that she had TS at age 8, she was so incredibly happy to have an explanation and to know that other kids were like her. She had felt like she was the only child in the world who had tics.

You need a diagnosis from a neurologist so that you can explain this to his teachers. Your child should NOT be scolded for things he cannot control. My daughter has Tourette's Syndrome and it is not the end of the world. It is much better to know and to give them a language for discussing this with other kids. It is normal to have "transient tics" which pass after a few weeks or months but when a child has had both motor tics and vocal tics for years, it is usually TS. Once again, not the end of the world! But you do need some support. My daughter is in high school and has mostly outgrown her tics. She is doing great and I never medicated her. Good luck to you. It is not easy but TS kids are amazing people.

Please stop trying to teach your child to control his tics. You are not helping him. When he is at home he should feel safe to express them. He holds them in for long enough at school. My daughter told me when she was little that it was like trying to hold your breath. Eventually you have to breathe.

I have had the same issue in my now 8 year old. Have them check blood titers for strep. An underlying strep infection can cause tics. The tics become a habit and may never really go away, but they come back stronger with strep and stress.

When we checked my tick-er for strep blood titers, she had them. Treated for strep and the tics lessened.

Following. My son just started up last week with vocal tics, first time I've witnessed them. Hoping its temp and he outgrows them (as he did with his eye-rolling tics).

Both my sons had verbal and motor tics. My 13 yo grew out of them, my 15 yo did not.

I always tell the teacher about the tics and they know not to ask them to be quiet, because they can't.

If somebody asks they just say, "I have a tic"... But that is extremely rare and usually an adult. Some kids have apologized for their tics, "oh, sorry, I have a tic" and my kids just say, "oh, yea, I hs dc tics too".

Most kids don't care and say little about it when they find out my son has a tic. Adult's reaction vary from ok to OMG, I am soooo sorry.

Anonymous wrote:Why are you telling him to lie about his tics? I think that the best way to approach the questions is to educate people about what is going on.

I agree, and I think you are likely to find some good information about educating teachers and classmates about tics at the Tourette's syndrome association (even if your child does not have Tourette's). I would put your post on the special needs or the medical forum. I think you would get good information about how to support your child through this. I know you are trying to figure out the gentlest way to help your child, but remember that we tend to lie about things that are shameful. When you tell your child to lie, you are sort of indicating that he has something to be ashamed of. I had a student (second grade) with tics years ago, and his mom gave us information about tics and ways to explain them to the other students. Kids are pretty understanding and empathetic about things when they understand the reasons for them, in my experience.

Why are you telling him to lie about his tics? I think that the best way to approach the questions is to educate people about what is going on.

DS is 10+, he had tics since he was a three years old. Changing over time to motor and vocal tics.
They diminish for a period but come back sometimes stronger.

Right now he has a squeak/gasp tics that he does it 5-6 consecutively and repeats this every 30 seconds. It's very disturbing to him and he asks why is he doing this, and wants to be taken to a checkup. When he was 3 -5 years old we had a number of neurologist appointments. Which had the same outcome every time the doctor would say, do you want to start medication or wait it to outgrow.
We had stopped going after he was 5 years.

It's very hard for DS in school, now he and his friends are conscious of the tics. When the whole class is quiet, I can't imagine how he will handle it.
Even his teachers have asked him why he was not being quiet. I tell DS to tell everyone who asks him, that he has allergies or a dry throat issues that why he has to do it. When me are DS are alone, I ask him to do breathing exercises.
Any other advice to control the tics would greatly help us.