To Terry Re: Tourettes?

[Guest guest]

>

> Regarding the throat clearing - is he perfectly able to speak

BEFORE

> clearing his throat, do you know?

Ben was checked for any sinus/throat issues when it first started and

he was fine - we thought that too, at first. He sounds just fine

before he begins clearing his throat and, after a real bad day of

throat clearing, he has actually been a little hoarse from doing it

all day! The other thing I have noticed is that the throat clearing

is at its worst when he is stressed or over tired - sometimes he will

clear his throat 5 or 6 times before he can complete a sentence.

Also, it seems that the throat clearing is waning as the eye blinking

is increasing.....

>

> The blinking - I'd get his eyes checked to rule anything out there

> first including light sensitivity, then wonder about it if the eyes

> are OK.

He just had them checked at his 6 year check up and he tested just

fine. It is something to consider ruling out, though, _while_ he has

the blinking, just to be sure....

>

> The foot shifting/butt touching - could it be a nervous habit? Is

he

> a shy or nervous type? Or maybe it's some little OCD ritual he

> doesn't understand or realize he's doing? Is he aware of it when

he

> does it, or does someone point it out to him without his realizing

> he's done it??

>

That's definitely what I'm wondering and just not sure. Ben is

definitely NOT shy and is extremely confident. He'll walk into a room

of strangers and say " Hi! I'm Ben! " as if everyone was waiting

for " Ben " to arrive....let the festivities begin - Ben is here!

And this is where I question my ability to have a clear perspective

and am I scrutinizing him too much? - he is not highly compulsive -

he is a reassurance seeker, but eagerly looks for and accepts

redirection. He seems to be unaware of the shifting feet/butt

touching, and when I point it out to him....he may stop for a moment,

but then goes right back to doing it. But it may be another

manifestation of the OCD that snuck in and has him caught in a

ritual.....I tend to lean towards a tic still, but....I guess the

jury is still out on that one for me.

Thanks, for the questions and for added perspective - I

definitely need it!

Terry