6 year - Is It Tics or Soothing Behavior

[Izzi126]

My daughter has demonstrator tic like behavior for the past 6 months.  It started with vocal throat noise. She had a cold and after the cold continued with the throat noises.  Not even knowing about tics or tic behavior,  I brought her to the doctor thinking something was wrong with her throat and they said that some kids after they have a cold sometimes continue to make the noises displayed when a cold is present.  That for her action I should give her a reaction like taking a sip of water, if the behavior continued or developes into something different to bring her back.  So we did this and after six weeks or so she stopped making the noise. Little history, she has always seems to have nervous habits since birth, thumb sucking (still does), playing with belly button (belly button has calus from constant rubbing, patting tummy, sticking finger in eyes, rubbing noise while thumb sucking but all these behavior items never really seems to be an issue.  Mostly displayed when tired or watching TV.  However most recently 3 weeks ago she started making bending movements with her arms (motor tics) and vocal kissing sounds.The movement while still the same has changed in style over the last week bending at the elbow but hands are in a different position.  Originally when I asked her why she was doing it she said her arms hurt, but it was apparent to me after several days this was not the case.  I have noticed the movements are more chronic when tired or being reprimanded and during stressful times in the household, parents doing a lot loud talking unfortunatley about finanical problems recently (husband job loss). She does demonstrate this while playing and at school.  I have spoke to the teacher, but she told me she doesn't see any problems.  We had been riding over the last month about stop sucking her thumb because her pallet is being compromised. This movements and kissing vocal seem to be very voluntary, but I can not be sure.  The kissing is not as much as the arm movements and she does the arm movements almost immediately after waking.   I don't want to be overly worried or alarmed but at what point do I worry and bring her to the doctor in fear of advance stage tics or TS.  There doesn't seem to be any diagnosed history of tics on either side of the family, some anixeity diagnosed but nothing to major. She is happy, plays well, eats well, sleeps (sometimes hard to fall asleep but once sleeping stays sleeping) is average to over-average in school, overall very healthy child.  No infant sickness basically text book infact, was also breast feed up until 8 months. Any advise or direction you can give me would be appreciated.  Very concerned parent.

[sisbbbb]

My son, who is 9 yr. old now, went through a phase where he kept clearing his throat.  It went on for several weeks.  I asked him why he was doing this and he didn't know why.  It was most apparent when we were doing his guided reading homework ( this was last year when he was in 2nd grade).  Every once in awhile I notice other habits - after the throat clearing was stopped he started itching his head when we were doing his guided reading.  At first I thought maybe his head was really itching and would check him thoroughly for lice.  But I have come to realize this may be just nervous habits he has when he's doing things that are stressful to him.  Before the throat clearing he would sniff his fingers constantly.  That was bothersome to my husband and I because it was a very obvious thing and we didn't was it to affect him socially.  It really looked weird to see him always sniffing his fingers.  We asked him why he did it and he said he wanted to make sure his fingers didn't smell funny - but we kindly reminded him not to do it when we saw him doing this and eventually (after about 3 months) he stopped.  I think this may just be something  your child does when she's nervous or apprehensive about something.  My husband and I just explain that if he continues to do something it could become a habit, but I wouldn't be too worried.  Many children have nervous things they do when they're worried about something.  Look how many children bite their fingernails or chew on a pencil - just go to school and look at the pencils at the children's desks to see what I mean.  I think your daughter just has anxious habits.  Maybe you should talk to someone who can give you advice on how to address this with your daughter if it bothers or worries you, but I wouldn't want her to develop a complex about it.  I think habits are normal for quite a few children.

[LRM1021]

Sounds like these are self-soothing behaviors for when she feels anxious-- I am impressed at her ability to relieve her own anxiety.  Tics often come out more when kids are anxious as well.
You could take her to be evaluated, but if these movements are not bothersome to her, and are not impacting her socially, then even if they are tics-- why treat them?