I agree it's probably a stim. Address it (or not) as you would any stim. It definitely could be a tic, but it's such a mild tic that to put him on meds for this condition might be a case of the cure being worse than the disease. I found, over the years, that if I simply ignored some of the odder issues, they went away. Sometimes replaced by something else, sometimes not. If it sticks around awhile, you might want to know if it's Tourette's, but I'd stay away from meds until the tics become bad enough to interfere with his life. Silent tics are not that intefering. When tics are verbal, especially when the are LOUDLY verbal, you may want to consider meds (if they ARE tics).
My first guess would be that it is a stim. However, tics or allergies are also a possibility. In fact, allergies can trigger tics.
It's not always easy to tell the difference between a stim and a tic (especially complex motor tics). Here's how they compare (source: http://p069.ezboard.com/ftourettesyndromenowwhatfrm5.showMes sage?topicID=134.topic ). Good luck with everything.
Table 7.2 Characteristics of the movement disorders of Tourette Syndrome (tics) versus autism (stereotypies)
T = tics
S = stereotypies
T: Universal
S: Frequent, not universal
T: School-age onset
S: Toddler onset
T: May remit for months
S: More persistent; may become miniaturized with age
T: Vary a great deal over time
S: Less variable
T: Preceded by urge
S: May be preceded by urge
T: Suppressible for a time
S: Suppressible for a time
T: Sudden, rapid, darting
S: Not as abrupt or rapid
T: Brief
S: Longer
T: Repetitive, irregular
S: Repetitive, rhythmical
T: Asymmetrical
S: Often (not always) bilateral or generalized (e.g., flapping, jumping, pacing)
T: May be small (simple tics) and inconspicuous, or bizarre, even grotesque (complex tics)
S: May be simple or complex. More gesture-like or manneristic
T: Frequency and severity unrelated to IQ
S: More frequent in individuals with low IQ
T: Self-injury uncommon, "accidental," e.g., by repetitive poking
S: Self-injury relatively frequent, "intended"; e.g., biting, picking, head banging, slapping. Associated with low IQ and aggressiveness in some but not all individuals.
T: Not deliberately aggressive; sudden compulsive touching or approaching others.
S: Aggression such as pinching or hitting frequent
T: Respiratory tics, sudden vocalizations, coprolalia
S: Humming, singing, muttering
T: Worsened by anxiety
S: Worsened by anxiety, idleness
T: Lessened by activity, concentration
S: Lessened by activity, concentration
T: May persist in sleep
S: Not present in sleep
Jacob has been doing this weird blinking----shutting eyes really tight-----ALL the time now!! He is also blinking really fast--I don't know how he even can see anything. It seems to be getting more noticeable. He is also squinting alot!
We go to a vision specialist and he was just there 8 months ago. His vision is fine.
Who should I talk to first?
Psychiatrist who gives him his meds?
Eye Dr?
I already talked to our allergy Dr. Jacob couldn't get allergy testing because he is allergic to the EMLA cream. He had the RAST done though. Should I try eye drops first before calling anyone? (OK with allergist).
Help!
Well--I am sort of thinking it's a mix of things. He said the light is too birght for him--sensory? He has never complained before of this. At night---in his bedroom is where he thought the lights were too bright---but it was also after I asked him. I know they itch---he is itching them all the time. But it's the blinking that is constant. I wonder if he's blinking so much because it helps the itchiness? But he also seems really "spacey" lately too. He normally isn't a real--"in his own world" kind of guy. He spaces out every day--and talks to himself sometimes. My 11y caught him "singing" to his brand new fish we just got 2 hours ago!!
Jacob has been doing this weird blinking----shutting eyes really tight-----ALL the time now!! He is also blinking really fast--I don't know how he even can see anything. It seems to be getting more noticeable. He is also squinting alot! We go to a vision specialist and he was just there 8 months ago. His vision is fine. Who should I talk to first? Psychiatrist who gives him his meds? Eye Dr? I already talked to our allergy Dr. Jacob couldn't get allergy testing because he is allergic to the EMLA cream. He had the RAST done though. Should I try eye drops first before calling anyone? (OK with allergist). Help! What funny is--no one else in the house noticed it!! I don't know how someone couldn't notice it. Maybe kids just don't look at each other when talking or playing? Dh wouldn't notice---he never notices anything(Aspie). Since I brought it to everyones attention----they now notice it bad! My 12y dd can hardly look at him---she thinks it's gross!
I told Jacob he was doing it and he said he can't stop it---"the lights are always bright"---he says. no one in my friends noticed either till one particular bully picked up on it, then it was misery for me with the teasing. It does seem to be a compulsion, very difficult to control and really does make my eyes feel better. I think it is worse with bright lights so maybe your son is having the same problem, just try to get the rest of your family to ignore it, don't make a big deal of it and tell him that although you know it makes his eyes feel better he should try to wait till he is alone. Eye drops help a little for me but sometimes they make my eyes feel like someone has dropped a handful of glass in them. And being very tired feels the same. Hope you can sort this one out for your baby's sake
He can't stop it! It is continual----every waking minute!! It has nothing to do with his eyelids. It is real blinking. I will watch him without him noticing---and he seems to blink twice--faster than normal---then a double blink thingy--really tight. He has even tried to hold his eye lids open and he will still do this blinking thing! I'm starting to think it's a "tic".
I have trouble controlling it myself. I have no real suggestion for someone so young other than get him checked out. Please don't worry yourself to much yet tho. As I said I've had what seems like the same thing since I was young and nothing much has come of it besides teasing. Just try to calm down and push for answers. If nothing else your worrying about it will only stress him more. Good luck, hope you find an answer ((hugs)) Since it's not a real "noticeable" tic---it doesn't bother me. What bothers me is........he might have to be off the meds he's taking. That part terrifies me!!! This morning I really tried to "watch" him. It was not bad at all the first few hours after waking. I forgot to give him his meds until about 10am. Now he is back to his weird blinking stuff. If it is a med thing---I'm thinking it's the Strattera doing it. He only gets it in the morning and he gets his large dose of risperdal at night(so the med would be strong in his system by morning). How can you guys tell if it's a stim or side effect? With us it will be hard. He's never done this before and has been on risperdal for 2.5 years. Strattera for 1 year. I plan on calling Dr in the morning. I will try eye drops---right now. I have pantanol? It's a prescription allergy med. I already talked to our allergist about it. Thanks!! I do this myself. I'm not diagnosed with anything (tho I suspect after receiving my sons Aspie dx that I may also be Aspie) I do it because occasionally it feels good. My eyes feel "tight" and squeezing them shut relieves it. I have it particularly in my right eye and have done it since I was about two. My mum took me to a paed abt it when I was little and was told it was a tic and not to worry abt it. As I said I still do it and although it doesn't affect my vision in any way I can feel when I'm doing it (usually) and will often get odd looks. My best suggestion is to treat it as a stim and teach him to do it only around family or privately. That way he doesn't have to deal with the taunting from cruel kids...
My dd had the same exact problem while taking the FocalinXR (she would squint alot and complain that her eyes HURT. I would put Visine drops in her eyes and it seemed to help for a little while. But then it would start all over again. (Skylar is on the same meds and has no problems). So I took her back to her Psychiatrist and told him what what going on and he looked it up and said that it was a visual side effect of the meds and changed her to Concerta and we have had no more visual problems since.
What medications is he taking?
I would try the eye drops for a few days, and if no change, take him to the doctor that prescribes his meds and talk to him about it. Could be just a simple side effect.
GOod luck!
Sharlet has a squinting stim, she closes her eyes very hard and also kind of scrunches her face. I agree that it's likely to be a stim in Jacobs case also. Sharlet also does it when she sees or hears things she has an aversion too.
It could also be meds if he is on meds, Sharlet is on Risperdal and squinting/grimacing is listed as a side effect, but she had this sim before she started it.
sorry no advice, but I'm not sure what you should try. Sharlet doesn't do it constantly so it hasn't become a problem for us.
Good luck, keep us posted
When I can help my daughter stop one stim she always goes back to the blinking one. She's had her vision shecked, we treat her allergies and she's not on any meds. I can tell hers is a stim.
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