Nervous tic in a child: treatment, causes

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

Nervous tics are called involuntary, sharp and repetitive muscle contractions. This disease is familiar to many people, but most often it affects children under ten years of age. Parents do not immediately notice a nervous tic in a child, treatment is delayed because of this. Over time, frequent blinking or coughing alerts adults, and the baby is taken to a specialist. Since usually all indicators are normal, he advises to consult a neurologist. Only then do parents begin to deal with the problem. It takes a lot of time to diagnose the disease, so do not hesitate. It is better to seek help as soon as the alarming symptoms appear.

How does a tic appear and when does it occur?

Most often, contractions are most noticeable on the face and neck. They can be manifested by blinking, sniffing, moving the head or shoulders, twitching of the lips and nose. Sometimes a child has more than one symptom.

Neurologists say that the most dangerous age when the onset of the diseasemost likely - 3-4 years and 7-8 years. This is due to the peculiarities of the development of the body: at this age, children face various crises and move on to new life stages.

Symptomatics

It is not easy to identify this disorder, as for a long time neither the child nor the parents are aware that the movements are involuntary. The most important criterion that should alert is the inability to control muscle contractions. When a nervous tic is observed, the child's eyes may blink rapidly and twitch. This is one of the most common symptoms.

Types of nervous tics

Depending on how long the disease lasts, tics are usually classified as follows:

• Transistor. In this case, symptoms appear for less than a year.
• Chronic. It has been going on for over a year.
• Gilles de la Touriette syndrome. It is diagnosed when a child has extensive motor tics and at least one vocal tic.

If a child has a tic, treatment will depend on which muscle groups are involved. Therefore, the disease is usually divided into types:

- local (one muscle group);

- common (several groups);

- generalized (almost all muscles contract).

Tics can be vocal or motor. The first includes sniffing, coughing, and others. The second refers to involuntary movements of body parts.

Whydoes this disorder occur?

When children have nervous tics, the reasons for this phenomenon are of great concern to their parents. To make the picture more understandable, experts recommend remembering what events preceded these manifestations. As a rule, the disease is caused by a complex of reasons.

Hereditary factor

Neurologists say that it is he who is of paramount importance. But there are a number of caveats.

If one of the parents suffers from such a disease, it is not necessary that the child also be diagnosed with a tick. This indicates his predisposition, but does not guarantee this disorder.

It is impossible to determine by external factors whether a genetic predisposition is present. Perhaps the parents had psychological problems that, through upbringing, were transmitted to the child through uncontrolled emotions. In this case, it is worth talking about the way of responding, not genes.

Experience and stress

Parents are very worried when a nervous tic is detected in a child. They begin treatment immediately, but sometimes it is first necessary to think about provoking factors and eliminate them. If a specialist says that stress can be the cause, parents are skeptical about this. But it is worth remembering that for adults and children, the reasons for experiencing can be completely different. In addition, even positive emotions, if they are especially bright, can excite the nervous system of an impressionable baby.

TVs and computers

Children'sneurology manifests itself in many children, so parents should take timely action. Big problems bring prolonged viewing of TV. This is due to the fact that flashing light affects the intensity of the nerve cells in the brain. When this happens very often, the natural rhythm that is responsible for calmness gets lost.

Insufficient physical activity

Parents need to figure out how to get rid of a nervous tic, because it affects the mental he alth of the child and over time can move from one type to another and grow. Their main mistake is that they attach great importance to the mental load of the child and completely forget about the physical. It is also necessary for children so that the energy finds an outlet. Otherwise, reflex muscle contractions may occur.

Education errors

Children's neurology can suffer from parental traits over which they have no control. The following factors can lead to this disorder.

• Mom's anxiety. Children intuitively feel her mood and inner feelings, even if outwardly she is calm. This leads to the fact that the child loses a sense of security, and he is in constant anxiety.
• Restraint in the manifestation of emotions. Lack of affection and warmth can manifest itself in involuntary movements.
• Total control. Many mothers like to have the actions of the child and the events that occur around him be under their complete control. Only then can theybe calm.
• Inflated demands. Every parent wants their child to be the smartest. Often they endow him with those qualities that he does not possess, so the baby does not live up to their expectations. For a long time, the child lives in constant fear of disappointing mom and dad, so tics may occur as a reaction to experiences.

Psychogenic and symptomatic tics

To understand how to get rid of a nervous tic, you need to know that they are primary (psychogenic) and secondary (symptomatic). The first ones occur most often between the ages of five and seven, since this period is the most critical for the child. The causes of their occurrence can be stress and psychological trauma, which are divided into acute and chronic.

Symptomatic disorders are caused by birth trauma, tumors and metabolic disorders of the brain. Sometimes the cause is a viral infection that caused short-term hypoxia.

How to treat the disorder?

Parents who have identified a nervous tic in a child, treatment should not be shelved. First of all, you need to contact a neurologist, and then a psychologist. If the tics last for a long time, the baby will be prescribed medication, but in order to get good results, pills alone are not enough. Correction of all factors that can cause the disorder is necessary.

It is mandatory for parents to:

- reduce the time allotted for watching TV;

- provide physical activity;

- develop an optimal daily routine and follow it;

- minimize worries and stress;

- if possible, conduct sand therapy or modeling sessions;

- do exercises for tension and relaxation of facial muscles;

- do not focus the child's attention on the problem so that he does not try to control contractions.

Don't despair if your child is diagnosed with a nervous tic. Causes and treatment may differ in each case, but you need to know the general rules. It is not recommended to give the baby potent drugs, as the likelihood of side effects is high. If the disorder is a consequence of another disease, then complex treatment should be carried out.

Prevention

When there is a nervous tic in children, the symptoms can be both pronounced and completely invisible. But it is better not to wait until the disease begins to progress, and to take preventive measures. The baby should have enough rest, walk in the fresh air, and it is also very important to surround him with care and love, provide a comfortable and calm environment.