Should I have my 5yo checked for Tourette
 

Hello,

I just read something about Tourette Syndrome today, had never really heard of it before, and said omg that sounds like my Tony. When he was a late 3 or early 4 year old I took him to the ped to have his vision checked because he would uncontrollably blink. She said it was a tic.

She later sent him to a neurodevelopmental specialist because this combined with some ritual behavior and speech concerns, fearing something on the autism spectrum. His speech has since caught up. His rituals are fewer and less disruptive. The neuro wasn't concerned with his development and said it was probably just OCD gave us the number of a behavioral specialist if it became disruptive enough. I didn't follow up at the time.

The blinking carried on for months probably closer to a year and faded off but he although he will still do it on a rare occasion. They replaced themselves with other interesting behavior. He gasps, wheezes, sniffs or I don't really know what to call it and is always making some sort of noises. I don't know if it's related but he also has his hand nearly glued to his little boy part, if you know what I mean. I ask him to stop, but it seems so subconcious, he's doing it again in no time.

Could it be Tourette Syndrome, if so what sort of doctor would I want to talk to about it?

Hi and welcome

with your little guy being so young it really could be what are known as transient tics, which frequently resolve completely without any intervention

some parents have noted tics after vaccinations, or strep infections ( condition called PANDAS), and also with food allergy (especially dairy and/or gluten, as well as artificial chemical food additives) or environmental allergies etc, along with many other "tic triggers"



also, kids who have been on a lot of antibiotics frequently have candida ("yeast") infection in their gut, and that has been noted to also be a tic trigger. Eradicating the infection can often resolve the tics.

so even tho the tics you describe do occur in TS, yet that doesnt mean your little one has TS. At his age, most neurologists would likely suggest waiting before giving a diagnosis

TS is usually diagnosed after one year of both motor (movement) and vocal tics continuing, with characteristic waxing and waning (ie tics come and go and usually different ones)

there is a good informal survey on triggers for TS tics at Latitudes, and many parents whose kids tic, but dont have TS, have also reported how these often trigger their kids' tics too
http://www.latitudes.org/articles/finding_triggers.htm

hope that helps. I know it is hard not to worry about our kids when they exhibit things, but do be encouraged that for the vast majority of young kids who show tics, these are transient and do seem to go away as they get older

still, no matter the reason for the tics, it is always a good idea to be proactive, as you are being, and try to learn as much as you can and do what you can to try to eliminate any potential tic triggers

Sounds like my son!
 

You need a neurologist. My son was reffered by our eye doctor because she thought it may be ts. He's ten now, at the time he was 6. He was diagnosed almost immediately. If you get a diagnosis early, you will be better prepared. I had to order some ts books from borders, its hard to find them. Good luck!!