Tics and ADD sweet 8 yr girl

Hey there My name is Kyle, I'm 21, and I've been a diagnosed ADD kid since as far back as I can remember (I think I was diagnosed about age 5? Not sure). Part of what your daughter has sounds identical to my problems. I can't deal with school work, not in a timely manner, I am extremely forgetful, and when my ear was pierced I could never stop playing with the earring. Teachers have always said I have extremely high potential, and I've always been the most accelerated reader of anyone in my age group. I will also add, I've never been all that hyper unless I'm extremely excited about something like an upcoming event. Please feel free to email me at kyle.h.green@gmail.com and I would be more than happy to talk to you as best I can to answer all your questions about ADD. If you'd like, we could set up a phone call where I could speak with you about your daughter. Love to hear from ya and good luck with everything! ~ Kyle

Yes, chldren with ADD can also have Tics, which is why, in your case, stimulant medication is not a good idea as stimulants can make tics worse...Strattera or Welbutrin are better choices, not having the potential to cause or make worse a tic. You might want to have her evaluated by a child psychologist, or, better, a therapist who has experience treating children who have had a history of early chronic maltreatment...to assess in a more detailed manner what may be at the root of the problem, rather than attempting to make a diagnosis based on superfical and surface behaviors. regards

Do tics just "show up"? My 9 year old son sounds ALOT like the children described above. Some have suspected he is ADHD but we dont feel he really is as he can concentrate on things he WANTS to concentrate on - but is easily distracted in school, defiant (more than the normal child) and constantly is orally stimulating himself (chewing on whatever he can find.). In the last three months he has started bulging his eyes. Thats the only way I can describe it ... every few seconds he raises his eyesbrows and bulges his eyes out. He says he isnt doing it on purpose, and doesnt seem to be able to stop it. Is that a tic? Jen.

My son, who is 17, has tics. Do NOT put your child on ADD medication if they have tics. The tics will worsen. We learned that the hard way. Jensboys - what you said is interesting. My son is always chewing on something. I never associated it with the tics, but it makes sense.

Dear Jen, Yes, tics can appear and dissapear, so what you describe may be a tic. I think L123's advice needs to be explained as it is not true that ADD medicine will worsen a tic. Stimulant meds will, but not Welbutrin or Strattera. so, if your child has a tic or a history of relatives with tics the physician will generally not prescribe Concerta, Ritalin, Clonadine, etc. regards

I stand corrected. I meant "traditional" ADD medications like adderal or ritalin. Thanks for clarifying, Dr Art.

Thank you for replying. That means a lot. She was doing good for a couple of months with her tics but now she is doing the eye thing a lot. Where she kinda raises her eye brows up. It's been a week and she does a couple a minute. I wish she could replace this with another one since it is noticeable but I wouldn't ask her to try and do that because I don't want her thinking about it more and worrying. Hopefully they will get better soon. I have been making sure she is eating lots of fruit and less junk. She was never a big Junk eater though.I keep trying to go back and ask myself how this happened? 4 months before her tics (followed by forgetfulness and easily distracted) she did have scarlet fever. Her DOC said strap throat can bring this on and make it worse. I am wondering if she has always had this but it just now came out once she got sick? Last year at this time she had No TICS or ADD symptoms. She finished her work on time, was a teachers helper for the other students, and never got easier distracted. I don't get it. She has always been some what nervous and shy and I know tics have to do with nerves maybe that is why she is having them? Maybe I should look into relaxing type help?I am sure I will be around here now, I am glad I found this place too!

Hello, Your situation sounds alot like my daughter, although I have not thought to look for anything that could be considered a tic. My daughter is also 8 years old, just 46 lbs,cheerful, social, and was on the A honor roll all year...till the final quarter. All of a sudden she was getting at least 2 negitive check marks every day, once she got 3 (and a detention!). Her grades slipped and she feel to B status. Alot of her papers were suddenly showing simple, careless errors and her concentration was gone at times. I had a conference with her teacher, but some of that was because I also work at the school and saw some treatment of my child that made me question if the teacher was treating her harsher because she was noting my childs sudden lapse in work & behavior and felt it was "willful". I agreed something was wrong, but did not feel that this teacher handled things right. We are currently working with our Dr. & a nutritionist to find answers to what is going on with our daughter. I am very concerned about jumping to quickly on a diagnosis of ADD or ADHD. What if this is wrong and then she has a lifetime of trying to get out from under this label? I am also worried that a false label would have a greater negative effect her remaining school years, perhaps worse than if she actually does have ADD. We are looking into all options for this change before we "rule in" ADD or ADHD. It seems like the school was all to anxious for us just to get "diagnosed" , although they have already decided that is what her problem is, and for her to get it "under control" (medicated). I was floored with how quick they wanted us to jump on this band wagon. They seemed shocked that we are taking a more investigative approuch. I would love to talk to you more about our situations & share support if needed.