How to help your child get rid of nervous tics. — Fear or serious illness

IN modern world the child is exposed to a huge number of irritating factors, which, one way or another, affect his nervous system, causing certain failures. One of these manifestations is a nervous tic in a child. A nervous tic is a violent contraction of one or more muscle groups or a cyclic action or the production of some kind of sound that occurs suddenly and cannot be controlled by a person. What types of nervous tics are there in children, the causes of their occurrence and treatment options will be discussed in this article.

Nervous tics are also called hyperkinesis. It can occur suddenly, and the child has no influence on it.

Approximately 60–70% of modern children suffer from nervous tics to one degree or another. In most cases, these are harmless attacks, however, when the tic becomes obsessive in nature, it is best to consult a doctor.

Causes

The reasons for the formation of a nervous tic in a teenager or infant are different. As for infants, the main cause is often birth trauma, which also leads to disturbances in the nervous system.

In teenagers and young children preschool age The causes of tics can be:

1. Psychological factors.
2. Physiological factors.

Psychological reasons

Oddly enough, the behavior of children during the so-called transition (crisis) period can cause the formation of a nervous tic in a child. For example, at three years old, a small member of society wants to prove that he can do everything on his own, and the parents’ excessive care and his sincere misunderstanding and stubbornness creates a huge burden on the baby’s body, leading to the formation of tics.

Unhealthy atmosphere in the family or educational institution also affects the child’s nervous system.

Severe emotional shock (scaring a dog, death of a close relative, or pet, quarrel between parents, etc.) can serve as a catalyst in the development of the disease. In addition, excessive strictness in upbringing is one of the psychological factors in the development of nervous tics in children.

Physiological reasons

These factors are the most extensive compared to the first and include the following reasons:

• accompanying illnesses;
• taking medications;
• maintaining improper sleep and wakefulness patterns;
• helminths;
• abuse of a computer or cell phone;
• abuse of tonic drinks;
• insufficient lighting in the evening;
• lack of magnesium and calcium and other trace elements in the body.

Options for children's tics

Naturally, a child may have several types of this disease. And some manifestations are not taken into account by adults at all, since no one would even think of attributing, for example, nose sniffing to a nervous tic (there are undoubtedly more options).

So, a nervous tic in a child is divided into:

• mimic;
• vocal;
• tic limbs.

In addition, this disease is classified according to its duration:

• primary;

1. Transistor (lasts from a week to one year).
2. Chronic (lasts quite a long time) long time often several years).

Mimic

This type of nervous tic manifests itself in the facial muscles, and that is why it is called facial (after the name of the muscle group).

Facial tics include:

• cyclical blinking of the eyes;
• eye twitching;
• uncontrolled lip movement;
• contraction of the paralabial muscles.

Vocal

This type is the second most common after the mimic type and its peculiarity lies in the uncontrolled production of sounds, up to the shouting of words and entire sentences.

In addition to pronouncing words, sounds can be:

• cackling;
• sniff;
• tongue clicking;
• coughing;
• loud intake of air through the mouth (often the lips are folded together and air is drawn in through the corners of the mouth).

Tick ​​limbs

This type of illness is the least common and consists of the patient’s partial or complete loss of control over his limb or limbs.

This disease can manifest itself in the form of:

• snapping fingers;
• tapping your foot on the ground;
• tapping hands on the sides of the legs;
• uncontrolled gesturing in certain situations.

Thus, the symptoms of tics of the limbs can be different and the correct diagnosis will be made by the doctor in any case.

Diagnostics

Recognize the presence of a particular disease small child pretty hard. Particularly complex cases can even be diagnosed by an experienced specialist based on complex diagnostic measures. However, if we're talking about about simple manifestations, parents are able to recognize them.

So, who has a similar illness, as a rule, becomes irritable and hyperexcited. Parents may notice that the baby is grinding his teeth and cannot sit in one place.

Often, such children have reduced performance, mental activity (this does not indicate the presence of mental disabilities), and poor memory.

Boys are at risk, as they suffer from this disease more often than girls.

Parents who begin to notice signs of a nervous tic in their child are recommended to record these manifestations on video and show them to the doctor during the visit.

The doctor makes a diagnosis based on a survey and, in particularly difficult cases, on the basis of a comprehensive diagnosis, which may include:

• magnetic resonance imaging;
• computed tomography;
• electroencephalogram.

First aid

As for providing first aid to a child, it should be carried out in the family. The basis is the elimination of possible causes that provoked a nervous tic. This may be an overly difficult atmosphere in the family or team, psychological trauma, etc.

Parents should under no circumstances focus their child’s attention on his problem, as this can only aggravate the situation. The child may already know about the presence of the disease and have a complex about it.

Typically, eliminating primary causes gives positive result and after 3-4 weeks the nervous tic may stop. If the problem is much more complex, you will need the help of a specialist.

Treatment

Treatment of a nervous tic in a child is practically no different from the treatment of the same disease in adults. There are two treatment options:

1. Medication.
2. In folk ways.

How to treat a child with medications? The basis of such treatment is the use of sedatives and sedatives. Depending on the intensity of the tic and the duration of the disease, both relatively weak (tincture of valerian, motherwort) and quite strong, even tranquilizers, can be prescribed.

In addition, massage similar illness also shown. It provides withdrawal nervous tension from the child’s body, calms the excited nervous system.

In the presence of concomitant disease, doctor in mandatory will prescribe treatment for this disease. Eliminating the cause of the tic will help stop it.

Folk remedies

How to treat a nervous tic in a baby at home? Typically, treatment folk remedies is aimed at reducing nervous tension and should be carried out in combination with medication to increase effectiveness.

Some traditional medicine recipes:

Chamomile tincture - a small handful of chamomile petals is infused for 15 minutes in 200 ml boiled water, after which they drink half a glass every four hours. This tincture has a calming effect

Valerian root tincture - a teaspoon of crushed valerian root is boiled in a water bath in 200 ml of water for 15 minutes. The resulting decoction can be given to the baby one teaspoon half an hour after meals and before bedtime. The decoction has a calming effect.

Hawthorn tincture - half a glass hot water pour two tablespoons of hawthorn fruit and leave for 15–20 minutes. It is recommended to drink the tincture a few minutes before meals (15–20).

Geranium compress - crushed geranium leaves are applied to the site of a nervous tic for 15 minutes and fixed with a thick cloth. This compress helps relieve tension from the site of muscle contraction.

A bath with the addition of sea ​​salt and pine needles. Regularly taking such a bath has a relaxing effect on the child’s body.

What to do if none of the transferred funds Does not help? It may be necessary to resort to services child psychologist, and family psychologist, since often the problem is in the family.

Prevention

Prevention of this disease consists of following the following recommendations:

Thus, following the recommendations listed above will reduce the risk of your baby developing a nervous tic.

So, this disease in children is not dangerous to health, however, it indicates the presence of some disorders in the nervous system that require attention from parents. Spend time with your children and take care of their health!

A nervous tic is an involuntary (obsessive) contraction of one or more muscles. Tics in children are very diverse in their manifestations. They are similar to natural movements, but the difference is involuntary and stereotypical. The disease develops at absolutely any age, but nervous tics still occur in children almost 10 times more often than in adults, more often in boys than in girls.

Tic disorders are observed in every 5 children. They have firmly taken almost the first place among childhood neurological disorders. And the number of children suffering from this disease is increasing, and the disease itself tends to get younger. It increasingly affects infants.

People between 2 and 17 years of age are more likely to experience tics, if we talk about the average age of 6–7 years. The disease occurs in 6–10% child population. In 96%, hyperkinesis occurs before age 11. Its most common manifestation is blinking the eyes. 7–10 years is the age when vocal tics may appear.

The disease is characterized by an increasing course, the peak occurs at 10–12 years, then the symptoms gradually decrease. In 50% of patients, a complete recovery occurs by the age of 18 years.

Simple and complex...

Children have tics various forms and types, at the first stage of the disease, not only parents, but also the doctor will not always suspect anything alarming in the child’s behavior.

Depending on the nature of occurrence, tics are divided into:

• primary;
• secondary (occur after illness or injury)

Based on the symptoms that appear, there are:

• Motor – facial or limb tics (twitching of the eyelid or eyebrow, blinking, grimacing, grinding teeth, shuddering, swinging legs, etc.
• Vocal, vocal muscles are activated - (huffing, coughing, smacking, pronouncing certain words, phrases, etc.)

Based on one more criterion - prevalence, local and generalized(Tourette's syndrome) tic. In the first case, one muscle group involuntarily contracts, in the other, several (a combination of vocal and motor). The video details generalized hyperkinesis.

Ticosis is divided into simple and complex. Simple tics in children are involuntary, for example, pursing their lips or twitching their head, but with complex ones, they jump and squat, bend over and actively gesticulate.

There is a division of hyperkinesis into transient and chronic. Transient (transient) - when the symptoms of the disease disappear within approximately 1 year. Chronic tic disorders are usually characterized by motor hyperkinesis (without vocal hyperkinesis) lasting more than a year. And separately, vocal ones in a chronic form are observed extremely rarely. For chronic course The disease is characterized by periods of exacerbation and remission. An exacerbation lasts from 1-2 weeks to 3 months, and the period of remission lasts from 2-6 months to 1 year, or for a longer time - up to 5-6 years.

Causes

In young children, what happens in the brain is difficult process formation of groups nerve cells and their connections. If the connections are formed insufficiently strong, then they are destroyed, and the formation of the entire nervous system is accordingly disrupted. The imbalance manifests itself in the child’s hyperactivity, in nervous tics. There are so-called crisis periods: 3.5-7 years and 12-15 years, when “jumps” occur in the development of the cerebral cortex.

The reasons for the appearance of tics may also be hidden in existing central nervous system diseases in the child. Neurosis-like tics can be a consequence of birth trauma, inflammation of the brain (encephalitis). Their appearance is preceded by some external unfavorable factor: fear, psychological overload and many others. An example could be: the first visit to kindergarten or school, divorce or conflicts between parents, uncontrolled use of TV and computer. Simple motor tics are often observed after a child has suffered a traumatic brain injury. And vocal sounds provoke frequent respiratory infections.

The causes of tics in children may also lie in hereditary predisposition. Recent medical research examines immune and infectious mechanisms. For example, in mothers suffering autoimmune disease, children with hyperkinesis are more often born.

The first to appear, as a rule, are local facial tics, for example, eye or blinking and shoulder twitching. The limbs are the next to suffer, turning, throwing and shaking of the head, contraction of the abdominal muscles, squats, and jumping appear. One tick is replaced by another. Vocal ones can gradually be added to motor ones and intensify when the exacerbation stage occurs. And, conversely, in some patients, vocal signals are the first signals of Tourette’s syndrome, and motor hyperkinesis is added to them.

Sometimes attention is enough

Very often children suffering from tic disease do not need any treatment at all. special treatment. Involuntary movements of the eyebrows, mouth, shoulders, and blinking syndrome are very common manifestations of a neurotic nature; children under 7 years of age often suffer from them. Tics in a child caused by emotional and psychological factors go away on their own when the factors that caused them disappear. Children should feel the attention, affection and participation of loved ones. Endless remarks and shouts can only aggravate the current situation.

But even if the situation is more complex, it is permissible to count on the help of psychotherapy. IN game form The psychotherapist teaches the child to cope with stress independently. He treats using various psychotherapeutic techniques: gestalt therapy, kinesiology, hypnotherapy, body-oriented therapy. Exercises on fresh air, properly organized daily routine.

You can get rid of hyperkinesis by creating a stronger counter-irritation and trying to get the child’s attention to concentrate on something else. Various outdoor games, swimming, and dancing are suitable here.

Dance for your health!

IN alternative treatment Hyperkinesis is of interest in the dance of tectonics. It was invented at the beginning of the century by young people in Paris. They gathered in the Paris metro and did not want to be like others. Tectonic combines several different dance styles. All of them are characterized by “tic” movements. Tectonics in the Milky Way style is a dance with continuously moving arms and a swaying body.

The main thing is that he demonstrates good mood, playful behavior. The French Tek style mainly uses only the legs, which the dancer throws forward and backward in various combinations. The effect of a “running man” is created. But the tectonicist in a broken, rough style (Hardstyle) uses very sweeping, wide movements of his arms in combination with jumps. In another style - Vertigo - tectonics are danced using the same wide movements of the arms and body.

Children enjoy mastering the amazing dance of tectonics. The video shows that even kids can do the tectonics.

Tectonics is not able to cure an illness, but hobby will definitely contribute to recovery.

But for neurosis-like tics, psychotherapeutic methods, except autogenic training, have an ineffective effect. If psychotherapeutic treatment for a long time does not produce an effect, then you should turn to medications.

Drug treatment for nervous tics

In the treatment of the disease, sedatives (sedatives) are used, both medicinal and herbal. But even tincture of valerian and motherwort is not recommended for long-term use. Homeopathy offers a number of effective drugs, available good feedback: valerian-hel, spascuprel, galium-hel, hepel, which have a sedative, antispasmodic effect. Of course, the homeopathic doctor selects the appropriate drug for each diagnosis. For example, homeopathy offers Argentum nitricum 6, which helps cure blinking, vocal hyperkinesis in a child.

Generalized hyperkinesis has to be overcome with the help of medications. Drug treatment tic hyperkinesis, the development of its methodology is an urgent problem of modern pediatric neurology. Among the drugs prescribed to children, benzodiazepine tranquilizers are most often used: mezapam, clonazepam; neuroleptics: Melleril. But reviews of their use indicate undesirable side effects.

Atarax will help you heal

The non-benzodiazepine tranquilizer atarax is increasingly used. He's filming emotional stress, anxiety, fears. Atarax is a derivative of the anthelmintic drug perazine, which paralyzes the muscles of helminths. Atarax has a relaxing effect on the child's muscles. The results of recent scientific and clinical studies prove and confirm the effectiveness of the use of the drug “atarax” in the treatment of tic hyperkinesis, especially transient ones. In addition, there is improvement in more complex forms of the disease. A very important fact is that atarax, while influencing the reduction of impulsivity and hyperactivity, does not affect attention.

Atarax is used for patients of any age except infants. Before using all medications, you must read the instructions, and you must remember that the child’s body is capable of reacting to the drug in an unusual way. It is better to take the drug as prescribed by a doctor, because in case of unwanted reactions, the doctor will always be able to adjust the treatment. The drug dosage regimen is also developed by the doctor; it will depend not only on the severity of the disease, but also on the age of the child (from one year to 6, and after 6 years).

According to many parents, atarax in treatment nervous disorders It always has a positive effect in children.

Other treatments for hyperkinesis

Treatment of tic hyperkinesis involves the use of various methods reflexology: (moxibustion therapy, electropuncture, acupuncture, acupressure), herbal medicine, physiotherapy. When exposed to bioactive points, not only the symptoms are eliminated, but the cause of the disease disappears.

Treatment with herbal medicine, in addition to increasing the effectiveness of all medical procedures, has its own therapeutic value: it stabilizes the psycho emotional condition, reduces increased excitability nervous system, increases stress resistance.

In the treatment of hyperkinesis, they are widely used general massage, and massage of the neck-collar area, and underwater shower-massage. Massage of the collar area will significantly improve blood supply to the brain and have beneficial influence on the entire nervous system of the child. A underwater massage eliminates muscle tension.

Of the physiotherapeutic methods, the best reviews are about pine, carbon dioxide and sulfide baths (especially effective for 4-7 year old children), as well as ozokerite applications to the cervical-collar area.

A lot of information regarding your child’s illness can be found on various forums. For example, on the “Doctor Komarovsky” forum, parents of 6-7 year old children communicate a lot. It is on the forums that there are reviews both about the drug “atarax” and about the effectiveness of homeopathic remedies. Here you can find out which massage is best to do, which psychotherapeutic methods are most effective.

Many procedures for babies can be done at home: baths, massage, gymnastics. Parents simply need to master massage, at least its simple forms.

Children who have nervous tics, are absolutely no different from other babies, for this reason parents do not immediately notice this disease. The child often blinks or coughs - it’s okay, it will pass. Over time, parents still keep baby see an ophthalmologist or ENT specialist. However, all indicators are normal. In this case, the doctor may report that these signs are characteristic of a nervous tic, and it is necessary to make an appointment with a neurologist. The alleged diagnosis is very frightening parents, so they immediately go with the child to the doctor, who confirms the presence of this disease in the baby and makes an appointment medications. Ultimately, the course of treatment does not bring the expected results. In this article we will try to understand what tics are, why they appear and how to help your child cope with them illness.

What is a nervous tic?

A tic is a reflex contraction muscles, which occurs spontaneously and cannot be controlled. In most cases, this is observed on the face and neck. It manifests itself in the form of blinking, twitching of the eyelid or lips, sniffing, movements of the head or shoulders, and is very rarely observed in the arms and legs. Moreover, in some cases baby First there is a twitching of the eyelid, and then it is replaced by movement of the lips.

Types of ticks.

Experts divide tics into several species:

Local – one muscle group is involved;

Common – affects several muscles;

Generalized – almost everything is involved body.

Tics can also be motor and vocal. Motor tics are repetitive movement a certain part of the body or several at the same time. Coughing, sniffing, grunting, and so on are considered vocal tics. Repeated repetition of words and even phrases is considered a rather complex manifestation of a vocal tic.

What is a tick according to doctors?

Based on the classification of diseases, tics are divided into three types:

Transient tic - such a tic lasts no more than a year;

Chronic motor – can last more than a year;

Gilles de la Tourette syndrome, in which the child exhibits a large number of motor ticks and one vocal.

Tics are the most common disease in children. According to statistics, about 20% of children have this neurological problem. Moreover, in boys they manifest themselves much more often and more severely than in girls.

When does a tic occur?

Experts say that the “critical age” for the appearance of tic is 3-4 years and 7-8 years. This is due to the fact that in this age For the first time, the child faces crises in his development: acquiring skills, changing behavior, and so on. But what is most important is that during each crisis child passes new stage independence. It is for this reason that these periods are so dangerous for the child’s psyche.

However, today it is impossible to clearly say about temporary borders these crises, and, consequently, about the period of occurrence of tic disorders. Today, a crisis of independence can manifest itself at two years of age, and tics also occur in infants.

The causes of this disorder.

Many parents are primarily interested in why tics occur. As a rule, identifying certain events, which led to the appearance of tics, is very difficult, since this disease is caused by a whole range of reasons.

Heredity.

This is the very first cause, which doctors talk about. If one of the relatives was susceptible to psycho-emotional illness, then this also affects the child. However, there are several caveats:

This does not mean that the child will 100% have a tic. It's just predisposition, which may not turn into a disease;

It's quite difficult to figure out whether it's actually heredity, or maybe it's upbringing.Many experts say that if the mother has psychological problems, she contacts the child appropriately without controlling her negative emotions, which as a result affects the child. And these are no longer genes, but a way of reacting.

Stress.

This reason is quite difficult to understand, since for parents and the baby himself stress There may be completely different events. For example, a quarrel with a friend in kindergarten is regarded by a child as stress, while for parents this situation is quite ordinary. In addition, stress can have not only a negative connotation, but also a positive one. For example, special impression A trip to the zoo or a wild birthday celebration can also become stressful.

Spending a lot of time near the TV or computer.

This can be explained by the fact that a bright, flashing light causes a change in the intensity of work nerve cells brain. And if this happens constantly, then as a result the “alpha” rhythm, which is responsible for peace and tranquility, gets lost.

Lack of physical activity.

Simply put, the child has an excess of intellectual load and lacks physical activity. Almost all parents want their child to be smart and smart, so they force the child to devote most of his time to activities that develop intelligence But at the same time, they completely forget that the child also needs physical activity. Remember that a tic is a reflex contraction of various muscles of the body. And often the reason for this contraction is that energy the child is not wasted in everyday leisure. It accumulates and as a result forms disease.

Factors of education.

Let's highlight the main features character parents who can influence the development of a nervous tic in a baby:

Mom's anxiety. Externally mother may look calm, but usually every mother worries about her baby, about his health, and so on;

Restraint in manifestation feelings.In most cases, parents tend to control their feelings and emotions towards the baby;

- control mother. Many mothers are accustomed to controlling not only their actions, but also the actions of the child, as well as the events that occur at one time or another. When everything is under control, the mother does not have to worry. Otherwise, she is tense and anxious;

High requirements to the baby. This trait manifests itself in the fact that parents want their baby to be the best and be able to do everything that they once could not do. Therefore, they have high hopes for the baby, and he, in turn, tries not to disappoint them. And all this is accompanied by a special fear, which can cause tics.

Treatment of the disease.

If you notice nervous tics in your baby, you need to seek help from neurologist, and then to a psychologist, since tics are classified as psychosomatic diseases.

In most cases, after confirmation diagnosis, prescribes pills for the child. Such treatment is simply necessary, especially if the tics do not go away for a long time. However, pills alone are not enough to achieve results. The causes of this disease are varied, so multifactorial treatment is necessary correction And in some cases it is effective even without taking medications.

What to do:

Reduce the amount of time your baby spends near the computer and TV;

Increase physical activity;

Observe mode day;

Pay close attention to factors such as stress and upbringing, analyze them, and then develop a strategy to eliminate the identified ones errors;

Remove anxiety state child. Soothing baths, relaxing massages, long walks outside the city are ideal for this;

At the physiological level, anxiety can be relieved through sand therapy or sculpting;

If your child uses facial muscles during tics, come up with fun exercises, where the child can make faces. Tensing and relaxing muscles will help relieve nervous tics;

Do not draw your child's attention to the manifestation of tics, as the child will try to control them. As a result, the muscles will tense up and the tics will get worse. Control always means voltage. In addition, reminding a child that something is wrong with him destabilizes confidence and increases the baby’s anxiety;

Don't blame yourself or those around The problem is that the baby has developed tics. Direct all your efforts to correct the problem, and soon everything will fall into place. We wish you good luck.

Have you noticed that your child has begun to blink involuntarily or twitch his shoulders frequently? Perhaps he has a nervous tic. What caused it? Maybe the child recently had colds or did something scare him? Let's turn to a specialist...

Tics are lightning-fast involuntary contractions of muscles, most often of the face and limbs (blinking, raising eyebrows, twitching the cheek, corner of the mouth, shrugging, shuddering, etc.).

In terms of frequency, tics occupy one of the leading places among neurological diseases childhood. Tics occur in 11% of girls and 13% of boys. Under the age of 10 years, tics occur in 20% of children (i.e., every fifth child). Tics appear in children aged 2 to 18 years, but there are 2 peaks - 3 years and 7-11 years.

A distinctive feature of tics from convulsive muscle contractions in other diseases: a child can reproduce and partially control tics; tics do not occur with voluntary movements (for example, when picking up a cup and drinking from it).

The severity of tics may vary depending on the time of year, day, mood, and nature of activities. Their localization also changes (for example, a child experienced involuntary blinking, which after some time was replaced by an involuntary shrug), and this does not indicate a new disease, but a relapse (repetition) of an existing disorder. Typically, tics intensify when a child watches TV or stays in one position for a long time (for example, while sitting in class or in public transport). Tics weaken and even disappear completely during play; when performing an interesting task that requires full concentration (for example, when reading an exciting story), the child loses interest in his activity, tics appear again with increasing force. The child can suppress tics for a short time, but this requires great self-control and subsequent release.

Psychologically, children with tics are characterized by:

• attention disorders;
• disturbance of perception;

In children with tics, the development of motor skills and coordinated movements is difficult, the smoothness of movements is impaired, and the execution of motor acts is slowed down.

Children with severe tics have significant disturbances in spatial perception.

Classification of ticks

• motor tics (blinking, cheek twitching, shrugging, tense nose, etc.);
• vocal tics (coughing, snoring, grunting, sniffling);
• rituals (walking in a circle);
• generalized forms of tics (when one child has not one tic, but several).

In addition, there are simple tics that involve only the muscles of the eyelids or arms or legs, and complex tics - movements simultaneously occur in various groups muscles.

Tick ​​flow

• The disease can last from several hours to many years.
• The severity of tics can range from almost imperceptible to severe (leading to the inability to go outside).
• The frequency of tics varies throughout the day.
• Treatment: from complete cure to ineffectiveness.
• Related behavioral disorders may be invisible or pronounced.

Causes of tics

There is a widespread view among parents and teachers that “nervous” children suffer from tics. However, it is known that all children are “nervous,” especially during periods of the so-called crisis (periods of active struggle for independence), for example, at 3 years old and 6-7 years old, and tics appear only in some children.

Tics are often combined with hyperactive behavior and attention disorders (ADHD - attention deficit hyperactivity disorder), low mood (depression), anxiety, ritualistic and obsessive behavior (pulling out hair or wrapping it around a finger, biting nails, etc.). In addition, a child with tics usually cannot tolerate transport and stuffy rooms, gets tired quickly, gets tired of sights and activities, sleeps restlessly or has trouble falling asleep.

The role of heredity

Tics appear in children with a hereditary predisposition: parents or relatives of children with tics may themselves suffer from obsessive movements or thoughts. It has been scientifically proven that tics:

• are more easily provoked in males;
• boys suffer from tics more severely than girls;
• In children, tics appear at older ages early age than their parents;
• If a child has tics, it is often discovered that his male relatives also suffer from tics, and his female relatives suffer from obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Parental behavior

Despite important role heredity, developmental characteristics and emotional and personal traits of the child, his character and ability to withstand the influence of the outside world are formed within the family. An unfavorable ratio of verbal (speech) and nonverbal (non-speech) communications in the family contributes to the development of anomalies of behavior and character. For example, constant shouting and countless remarks lead to inhibition of the child’s free physiological activity (and it is different for each child and depends on temperament), which can be replaced pathological form in the form of tics and obsessions.

At the same time, children from mothers who raise children in an atmosphere of permissiveness remain infantile, which predisposes them to the development of tics.

Tic provocation: psychological stress

If a child with a hereditary predisposition and an unfavorable type of upbringing suddenly encounters a problem that is too much for him (psychotraumatic factor), tics develop. As a rule, the adults around the child do not know what triggered the appearance of tics. That is, for everyone except the child himself, the external situation seems normal. As a rule, he does not talk about his experiences. But at such moments, the child becomes more demanding of loved ones, seeks close contact with them, and requires constant attention. Nonverbal types of communication are activated: gestures and facial expressions. Laryngeal coughing becomes more frequent, which is similar to sounds such as grunting, smacking, sniffling, etc., that occur during thoughtfulness or embarrassment. Laryngeal coughing always increases with anxiety or danger. Movements in the hands arise or intensify - fingering the folds of clothing, twirling hair on a finger. These movements are involuntary and unconscious (the child may sincerely not remember what he just did), intensify with excitement and tension, clearly reflecting the emotional state. Teeth grinding may also occur during sleep, often in combination with nightmares and nightmares.

All these movements, having arisen once, can gradually disappear on their own. But if the child does not find support from others, they become fixed in the form of a pathological habit and then transform into tics.

Often the appearance of tics is preceded by acute viral infections or other serious illnesses. Parents often say that, for example, after a severe sore throat, their child became nervous, capricious, did not want to play alone, and only then tics appeared. Inflammatory diseases the eyes are often complicated by subsequent tics in the form of blinking; Long-term ENT diseases contribute to the appearance of obsessive coughing, snoring, and grunting.

Thus, for tics to appear, three factors must coincide.

1. Hereditary predisposition.
2. Miseducation(presence of intra-family conflict; increased demands and control (overprotection); increased adherence to principles, uncompromising parents; formal attitude towards the child (hypoprotection), lack of communication.
3. Acute stress, provoking the appearance of tics.

The mechanism of development of tics

If a child constantly has internal anxiety or, as people say, “an uneasy soul,” stress becomes chronic. Anxiety itself is a necessary protective mechanism that allows you to prepare for it in advance of a dangerous event and speed up reflex activity, increase reaction speed and acuity of the senses, use all the body’s reserves for survival in extreme conditions. In a child who often experiences stress, the brain is constantly in a state of anxiety and anticipation of danger. The ability to voluntarily suppress (inhibit) unnecessary activity of brain cells is lost. The child's brain does not rest; Even in his sleep he is haunted by terrible images and nightmares. As a result, the body's adaptation systems to stress are gradually depleted. Irritability and aggressiveness appear, and academic performance decreases. And in children who have an initial predisposition to a deficiency in inhibition of pathological reactions in the brain, harmful psychotraumatic factors cause the development of tics.

Tics and behavioral disorders

Children with tics always exhibit neurotic disorders in the form of low mood, internal anxiety, and a tendency to internal “self-examination.” Characterized by irritability, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, and sleep disturbances, which requires consultation with a qualified psychiatrist.

It should be noted that in some cases tics are the first symptom of a more severe neurological |and mental illness, which may develop after some time. Therefore, a child with tics should be carefully examined by a neurologist, psychiatrist and psychologist.

Diagnosis of tics

The diagnosis is established during an examination by a neurologist. In this case, video recording at home is useful, because... the child tries to suppress or hide his tics when communicating with the doctor.

A psychological examination of the child is mandatory to identify his emotional and personal characteristics, concomitant disorders of attention, memory, control of impulsive behavior in order to diagnose variants of the course of tics; identifying provoking factors; as well as further psychological and medicinal correction.

In some cases, a neurologist prescribes a number of additional examinations (electroencephalography, magnetic resonance imaging), based on a conversation with parents, the clinical picture of the disease, and a consultation with a psychiatrist.

Medical diagnoses

Transient (passing) tic disorder characterized by simple or complex motor tics, short, repetitive, difficult-to-control movements, and mannerisms. The child experiences tics every day for 4 weeks but less than 1 year.

Chronic tic disorder characterized by rapid, repeated uncontrolled movements or vocalizations (but not both) occurring almost daily for more than 1 year.

Treatment of tics

1. To correct tics, it is recommended to first eliminate provoking factors. Of course, it is necessary to observe a sleep and nutrition schedule, and adequate physical activity.
2. Family psychotherapy is effective in cases where the analysis of intrafamily relationships reveals a chronic traumatic situation. Psychotherapy is useful even with harmonious family relationships, as it allows the child and parents to change the negative attitude towards tics. In addition, parents should remember that what is said in a timely manner sweet Nothing, touch, Team work(for example, baking cookies or a walk in the park) help the child cope with accumulated unresolved problems, eliminate anxiety and tension. It is necessary to talk more with the child, walk with him more often and play His games.
3. Psychological correction.
   • Can be carried out individually - for the development of areas mental activity(attention, memory, self-control) and reducing internal anxiety while simultaneously working on self-esteem (using games, conversations, drawings and other psychological techniques).
   • It can be carried out in the form of group classes with other children (who have tics or other behavioral characteristics) - to develop the sphere of communication and play out possible conflict situations. In this case, the child has the opportunity to choose the most best option behavior in conflict (“rehearsing” it in advance), which reduces the likelihood of exacerbation of tics.
4. Drug treatment for tics should begin when the possibilities of previous methods have already been exhausted. Medications are prescribed by a neurologist depending on clinical picture and additional survey data.
   • Basic therapy for tics includes 2 groups of drugs: those with anti-anxiety effects (antidepressants) - phenibut, Zoloft, Paxil, etc.; reducing the severity of motor phenomena - tiapridal, teralen, etc.
   • Drugs that improve metabolic processes in the brain (nootropic drugs), vascular drugs, vitamins.
     Duration drug therapy after the complete disappearance of tics is 6 months, then you can slowly reduce the dose of the drug until complete withdrawal.

Forecast for children who developed tics at the age of 6-8 years, favorable (i.e. the tics go away without a trace).

The early onset of tics (3-6 years) is typical for their long course, until adolescence, when the tics gradually decrease.

If tics appear before age 3, they are usually a symptom of some serious illness (for example, schizophrenia, autism, brain tumor, etc.). In these cases, a thorough examination of the child is required.

Discussion

Hello, my child also started having tics, my husband went on a business trip, the child was bored, he was 3.9, it’s just from stress, why immediately diagnose serious illnesses?

12/19/2018 11:51:02, Nastya Kravchenko

Good afternoon. I will sell TIAPRIDAL (France) (expiration date until 2013). We switched to Rispolept and there were 6 boxes left for 380 rubles.

My son is 11 years old, he has been suffering from complex tics for 6 years, doctors suspect “turetaa”, although they did not do any examinations, everything is based on my stories and external manifestations tics, but they don’t find it necessary to search for the cause, they don’t recommend medications whenever possible, they told me to wait until adolescence. But the situation doesn’t improve at all, what to do, help!

13.09.2008 20:16:48, Shaulova Sabina Mikhailovna

Today we were diagnosed with hyperactivity, the child is 2 months and 5 days old, birth weight 3.4 kg, today 6.5 kg, height at birth 52 cm, today 59 cm, calm, cries only when he feels discomfort.
Is the diagnosis correct? Is it worth giving the child the medications prescribed by the doctor (Citral medicine 1 teaspoon x 3 times 30 days, ciniarizine 1/4 x 2 times 20 days, dibazol 0.001 x 1 time 20 days)?

14.12.2006 14:36:07, Vladislav

Comment on the article "Nervous tics. How to deal with them?"

I'm looking for a good neurologist. Doctors, clinics, hospitals. Pediatric medicine. Child's health, illnesses and treatment, clinic Please recommend a good neurologist - a 9-year-old child has had terrible tics for 5 years, headaches intermittently. We took a bunch of pills without...

Discussion

We treated my daughter's tics (blinking eyes). started at age 2. They drank Phenibut and some other sedatives. Nothing really helped.
It's time for school. We limited TV and gadgets. We tried to give more positive emotions. IN my opinion, we should try to find our own version of “treatment”. Maybe try acupuncture. Give it to some sports section that the child will like. A mobile child's psyche must be “loaded” with something :-) I wish you health and patience!

My son has also had tics since first grade (now in 4th grade), last year they were very strong, we didn’t go to school for 2 weeks. We are seeing her at Nevromed with Kuzina G.V. Now they have become much less.

Child health, illnesses and treatment, clinic, hospital, doctor, vaccinations. Nervous tic - need advice. A child (6 years old) often squints his eyes (blinks his eyes) + his 6 year old son has an increased nervous tic. Pediatric medicine. Child health, illnesses and treatment, clinic...

A child has a tic. Medications. Other children. Section: Medicines (phenibut and children's tics forum). A child has a tic. Eh, I shouldn’t have considered phenibut a panacea for tics (they used to be seasonal in the fall, but 2 years ago they completely disappeared).

Child health, illnesses and treatment, clinic, hospital, doctor, vaccinations. Has anyone had a similar form of tic? Traditionally these are the eyes, as I understand it, but with us everything is much lower. Nervous tics in a child: has anyone had this?

Discussion

Remove the TV. Vitamins of group B. Magne B6 or multivita-mol. Just don’t take Noofen, which is prescribed by a neurologist. And glycin is not so safe for children - in the West they don’t offer it to children.

01/06/2012 01:23:56, FROM ME

Magne-b6 helped my child with multiple tics very well.

Causes of nervous tics in children. Nervous tic. Hello! group B. Magne B6 or multivitamol. Just don’t take Noofen, which causes nervous tics in children. Diagnosis and treatment of tics. Print version. I really doubted something and didn’t give it. Well...

I took my daughter out of school for almost a month (I didn’t work, I could study with her, she passed all the tests), then we went to school in a uh.. gentle mode :) - that is, if I saw that we didn’t need to school, we didn't go there :).
Plus, medicinal support (homeopathy, Berocca, etc.) + the daughter’s correct attitude towards the problem, etc.
If you don’t arrange a “vacation” (especially if you don’t, and so in any case), then it is very important to form the correct attitude of the teacher, which you, apparently, have already done, all that remains is to periodically remind her of this.
I wouldn’t think about another school at all for now - it’s an additional one. stress, you don’t need it at all right now.
Quite a lot of children have tics, most of them successfully outgrow this, but I would be very careful - in the future, tics may appear against the background of overload.
And one more thing - a tick that has just appeared can be corrected much easier, so, most likely, everything will pass pretty soon :).
If you have any questions, write in a personal message.

Thanks everyone for the advice. In general, we talked to the teacher again, tried to make her understand that this child’s problem did not arise without her participation, and asked her to praise her more often. It seemed to be adequate, I don’t know what will happen next. There is nowhere to transfer yet, a new school will only be built next. year, in the other two the attitude is even worse, I know one of them from myself and my brother, who just left there. At home we only praise her, especially since there is a reason for it. In my opinion, the child writes simply very well, much better... I began to read faster. After homework, he takes his notebooks and plays school - he teaches his dolls to write. So, I like the process itself!
And see the doctor on Monday. Thanks again.

Treatment of tics by a psychologist. Need a consultation with a psychologist. Child psychology. Children's age-related psychology: child’s behavior, fears, whims, hysterics. Anya has local facial tics. We take medications, but I heard that there are psychologists who specialize...

Children aged 5-7 and 10-11 years are often susceptible to nervous tics. This phenomenon occurs due to psychological experiences. At the same time, a nervous tic can appear as a result of damage to the central nervous system, which happens with epidemic encephalitis.

In addition, facial tics can be caused by inflammatory processes in this area. Tic-like movements can also cause magnesium deficiency in the body. To compensate for the deficiency of this microelement, you need to eat legumes - peas and beans, oatmeal and buckwheat.

It is the cause that needs to be eliminated, and therefore the method of treating tic depends on its nature. In particular, if it is caused by organic problems, these problems should be eliminated first. However, in any case, the treatment will be quite long, requiring observation by a neurologist and a lot of patience.

Stressful nervous tic in a child

It is more difficult to cure a stress nervous tic in a child. Most often, smart and emotional children, quite developed, suddenly begin to show signs of tics - trembling of the eyelids, lips, hands, etc.

However, this is not a disease, but a feature of the structure of the nervous system, inherent in impressionable children. Their nervous system is more tense than that of phlegmatic people. Such manifestations last quite a long time, but adolescence they usually disappear gradually. And the calmer and friendlier the family environment is, the less stress the child has, the it will pass faster nervous tic.

The child developed a nervous tic: what to do?

There is no need to think that you should just calm down and wait for the manifestation of a nervous tic to disappear, folding your arms. On the contrary, it is necessary to identify all problems in family relationships, in kindergarten or at school, with friends. Then it is necessary to stop in a timely manner excessive load for a sensitive child.

Various long-term influences that traumatize his psyche should not be allowed. Excessive demands and strictness, lack of attention from parents, their warmth and expressions of love for the child, as well as lack of interest in his worries and worries can easily disrupt peace of mind.

For a receptive child, a friendly and calm atmosphere at home is extremely important. The same can be said about school problems, as well as the stress that studying requires, the fear of testing school knowledge and being judged by classmates. Having found out such moments in all contact places of the child, perhaps you will be able to determine the real reason stress. Then it will become much easier to fight him.

At the same time, the child should be helped to relieve internal and external stress. Sedatives and restoratives, baths, and massage will help with this.

It should be borne in mind that drugs affecting the nervous system also have side effects. Therefore, you need the help of a neurologist who will prescribe medications that are most suitable for your child. The help of a psychotherapist who has various special techniques and techniques will also be very useful.