My son is 7. He had a habit last summer of twisting the hair on the back of his head. It left a spot bald, about the size of a quarter for about a month. It has since grown back.
At the end of the school year, he started twisting the front of his hair leaving it thin.

About three weeks ago he started jerking his head back. At first I thought it was because he was trying the make it "crack" because he had slept on the couch and it was stiff. Now that he has been out of school because of the storm, he is cracking his neck alot. Too much. He had started TaeKwonDo when school started and was loving it. That just started up again tonight.

I have asked him to stop. He says he can't so I don't have to ask him anymore.

I hope this makes sense. Is he a stressed child with tics or could this be a base line of Tourette's?

By Feona on Thursday, September 30, 2004 - 07:51 am:

He stopped pulling his hair?

If he didn't I would ask him if he would like a crew cut or get him a crew cut. I just think you can damage the hair follicules permanently by twisting constantly.

I have no experience with this. Does his neck hurt?

I would ask the doctor...

By Lauram on Thursday, September 30, 2004 - 09:09 am:

FOr a dx of Tourette's there have to be motor and vocal tics for a year with no period of more than 3 months without them. The hair thing has a name- tric.... I'd look it up, but I"m at work right now with only 5 min until my next class. The neck thing sounds like a tic. Many kids can have tics and not get full blown Tourette's. The important thing is to not call attention to it- if you do , it makes it worse. For the hair, have you tried having him wear a hat? That might help. (BTW- my son DOES have Tourette's and he's 7). Does he do any vocal tics? Clearing his throat, huffing, animal noises- just to name some possiblities.....

By Feona on Thursday, September 30, 2004 - 09:29 am:

That is true about not calling attention to something. My mother was babysitting and by the time she was done ds had a tic.

She was constantly telling him not to like blink his eye. So he was blinking his eye for attention.

Went away in a few days. I took him for the doctor for that too.

By Feona on Thursday, September 30, 2004 - 09:38 am:

http://www.uihealthcare.com/topics/childhealthdevelopment/chil3092.html

This one says he should go to the doctor.

Sometimes abnormal body movements, much like tics, represent a form of rheumatic fever or a neurologic problem

By Feona on Thursday, September 30, 2004 - 09:40 am:

http://www.mothernature.com/Library/Bookshelf/Books/16/231.cfm

This one seems to have alot of information too...

By Feona on Thursday, September 30, 2004 - 09:44 am:

Here is some more...

http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&q=cracking+neck+tic

By Feona on Thursday, September 30, 2004 - 09:54 am:

I think the hair twisting thing is like

a distraction thing.

I just tried it. It is very distracting. So if you twist you hair it distracts you from your problem. Of course he is little so I don't know.

Is his classroom stressful?

By Lauram on Thursday, September 30, 2004 - 06:48 pm:

The hair pulling is called Trichotillomania. Here's a link about it. www.ocdonline.com/articlephillipson8.htm

By Kaye on Thursday, September 30, 2004 - 09:31 pm:

I think you need to figure out if it a tic or a self stimulating behavior. The difference a tic he has no control over, a self stim behavior he does. Honestly I would just remind him to stop. This can be a key word or a touch. If he can control it or you make it worse than I would think it is NOT tourettes. What has your doc said? What have you tried to do for it? I have found with typically developing children they all do things that drive us crazy and you either ignore it or try to correct it, but for some reason with sp needs we forget there are times it is okay to try to correct and guide them the right way! That is not always the answer, but I don't think it can hurt trying!

By Annie2 on Friday, October 1, 2004 - 09:00 pm:

Thanks, everyone. The hair twisting is done because he likes the way it feels. He also does it when he is watching tv. So I have been pushing him to play with his toys while watching tv and of course limiting his tv time. I bite the inside of my cheeks. I guess it is the same thing.

The neck thing started after he had slept on the couch. I would compare it to cracking knuckles, maybe. Today he hardly did it at all.

I haven't taken him to the doctor because do think it is tics and not Tourette's but I wanted to ask him for some insight.

Feona, your comment about your ds's tic and your mom babysitting made me laugh! LOL

I'll keep you posted. Thanks for your insight and thoughts. You are all the best!

By Lauram on Saturday, October 2, 2004 - 12:08 pm:

I have to say that I disagree that if he can control it, it's not a tic. Tics are unvoluntary not involuntary. They can be supressed- or halted temporarily- but they will come out later - either stronger or in a different way. I would just watch him. Tourette kids have all kinds of tics but they are constantly changing. The trick is it has to go on for a full year. Keep a journal. If it lasts for a long time, then bring him to the dr. You can also teach kids with tics to substitute their tic. You are already doing that with the hair twisting one. I might even give him a ribbon or something "hairlike" to twist while he watches tv. Diverting their attention works too.

By Pamt on Saturday, October 2, 2004 - 01:13 pm:

Annie, also is he on any medication, esp for ADD or reflux? Some of these meds can cause tics as a side effect. My youngest DS takes Reglan for reflux and the doctor was very careful to calculate the does because too much causes tics. Just a thought....

By Annie2 on Saturday, October 2, 2004 - 10:18 pm:

No, he's not on any meds. He does have an inhaler for slight breathing problems but usually only needs it when his seasonal allergies flare up.

As a baby while nursing and as a younger child he loved to twist my bracelet. Often times wearing it to bed himself to rub between his fingers. He lost it about two years ago and has not had anything but his hair to twist since. Excellent idea to get him a ribbon or something similar to my old bracelet fo him to fondle in down times.

I will keep tabs on him on my calendar and see if there is a pattern and to monitor his behavior. Today he hardly did the neck thing.

Thanks so much for all suggestions and thoughts.