Kid's Ticks/Habits

[webby]

My 6 yr old son is displaying some strange behaviour which is causing me some concern. He's always been very fidgety but lately it's become a bit more than that.

He regularly touches his inner elbow/upper arm to his chin/neck, he constantly touches his pee-pee, and, more recently, he has taken to sniffing constantly (for no reason; no cold or anything) and blinking at an alarming rate for no apparent reason, although he says his eyes tickle, but I think this is a consequence of the blinking which must make his eyes tired, causing him to rub them which probably makes them sore and itchy.

I honestly don't know what's going on but it's driving me crazy. It seems as if when he's stopped doing one thing, he'll come up with some other weird habit to replace it.

What should I do?

[Ali Tait]

Doctor would be a start.

[Macca]

Yep, consult a professional. I don't think this sort of thing is uncommon so presumably they will know how to address it.

[struth]

Its a not uncommon thing with kuds but there can be different things causing it. A full check up it needed to rule out anything nasty. It may well go away on it own especially if you dont make too much of it... Sometimes a change of enviornment can cure it but best have doc check him out

[hifi_dave]

Our 6 year old Grandson started to make the occasional twitch/jerk of one shoulder. The Doctor said to ignore it, don't point it out to him or make a fuss and it will go away. It took about a year but he no longer does it.

I would take him to the Doctor though, just to make sure.

[webby]

Yes going to the doctor is a given but it can help to get others thoughts and opinions too.

Thanks guys

[awkwardbydesign]

Has the central heating come on recently? I get several of those symptoms* from the dry air, which is why I bought a humidifier (from Argos). Even if it isn't the cause, it might help the symptoms.
* But not touching my pee pee. That's a different problem entirely. :rolleyes:

[Ninanina]

Yes going to the doctor is a given but it can help to get others thoughts and opinions too.

Thanks guys

Hi Lee it sounds a little bit like Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) but I have no idea if children can suffer from this or not, probably they can. However like a lot of things it can go away as quick as it came

I am sure the doc will throw some light on it

Hope it all goes well for you and your son

[sq225917]

Get the doc to refer you to a child psychologist, it could equally be a manifestation of something that he experienced as it could something physically wrong.

And give him a big hug, he needs that more than anything during periods of uncertainty. No matter how concerned you are you can't let him see that. If he's concerned by it he's looking you you and mum for support.

[Kember]

It is always a bit of a worry but better to take it seriously in a low key way and see the doctor, as complacency should be avoided.

But, to reassure you, I can't think of any young boy I've known who did not possess similar tics for a period, especially the touching the todger (and if you look at many grown men, some never grow out of it even in mixed company)...My son certainly had these habits between about four and ten and then seemed to grow out of them. My son was at an all boy's school between those ages, so the observation is based on a pool of around 300 boys BTW. I really don't think this behaviour is that unusual, however irritating it is to the observer. FWIW, my son (now 17) is showing signs of developing into a relatively normal and civilised human being :).

Peter