Anonymous wrote:Revisiting this - anyone have good resources for explaining to your youngers child what the tics are and why they happen?

The Tourette association of America has great resources to support kids, families and school. https://tourette.org/

My child has ADHD combined and Tourette’s. Tics on and off since age 2. We see a developmental pediatrician. My son didn’t tolerate stimulants. He takes a non- stimulant (kapvay) and is extremely effective at reducing or eliminating his tics. The tics stopped with 2 days of starting the medicine. We tried a few weeks last summer off of medication and the tics returned. The medication is wonderful. No side effects for my child.

Revisiting this - anyone have good resources for explaining to your youngers child what the tics are and why they happen?

I have two older teens that had tics starting at a young age and now seem to have grown out of them. The tics would evolve -- eye rolling would transition to throat clearing, which would transition to verbal utterances in the last few years, though Tourettes was never diagnosed. The verbal utterances and other tics have now faded to the point where they are barely noticeable. 10 years ago each were evaluated, at a couple of different times, by a neurologist and the advice was always been the same: Let it go and see if it changes over time, but if you want to try reducing them now try the medication clonidine. We never tried the medication. Now, with both in their upper teens, it seems to have basically passed.

So, in addition to the treatment options you mention, I'd add doing nothing.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid with tics Tourette’s also has OCD. Anyone in this same boat?

Make sure you check that your child does not have an underlying autoimmune condition similar to PANS. PANS and cooccuring infections can cause OCD type symptoms as well as, tics. If it is autoimmune/ infection related the good news is that it can be treated quickly and effectively.

It’s interesting that you mention this. My kid was doing some odd OCD behaviors at the end of last week and got into trouble yesterday at school. I feel like I should have him tested for strep.