my son's strange habits

[pandora411969]

My son seems to have no end of strange habits.  When I think I have licked one, another surfaces.  Then, some I thought I licked have yet to go away at all.  My son has been a thumb-sucker since infancy.  He is nearly 10 years old and we cannot put him to bed without STOP liquid ( a nasty tasting anti-thumbsucking ointment) on his fingers.  Sometimes we use a sock or glove.  He doesn't suck his thumb during the day, only at night when he is asleep.  The thumb gravitates in seemingly of its own volition.  
He also has developed this strange facial thing.  I guess you could call it a tic.  He raises his eyebrows high and does this blinking thing.  He also sits and smells the tips of his fingers while he is watching television.  I think he still has a craving to suck a thumb but is opting to hold his fingers up to his mouth instead.
He also seems to never make it to the bathroom without expelling feces into his pants.  My husband scolds him about waiting too long and holding it in.  I have often worried that he might have some kind of encopresis (sp?) because he used to tell me he didn't really know he needed to go that badly until it was on its way out and he would run, not making it in time.  I don't really know.  I just know I am forever cleaning his soiled underwear and am trying to figure out how to make it better. He also seems to love to make loud noises.  Should I worry?

[theman102]

Your son has encopresis (sp). No biggie, just go to a doctor, and they will have some stuff he can take to take care of it.

I bet it's causing his tics. He might be stressed and is dealing with it through strange habbits. Scolding your son won't help him. It's medical, he can't always help it.

[specialmom]

I'm still thinking there are some sensory issues underlying it all ------------  more pointedly, an underactive nervous system.  

Hope she has found help by now as this is an old post.

[mom2mwamcgl]

Google tics and magnesium.  Also for the bathroom prob. consider allergies or something like that.  Look at mineral deficiencies.  Doctors won't help with that.  They'll just say it's normal and it'll go away (or give him a nice pill).  Look at his diet first!!!

[mom2mwamcgl]

Google tics and magnesium.  Also for the bathroom prob. consider allergies or something like that.  Look at mineral deficiencies.  Doctors won't help with that.  They'll just say it's normal and it'll go away (or give him a nice pill).  Look at his diet first!!!

[specialmom]

Hi.  Hm.  Let me ask you some questions--------  how are your son's motor skills?  When he was little, did he have trouble learning to hold a pencil?  Did he have some articulation problems with speech?  Did he trip a lot?  Did he shy away from new activities that involved motor skills?  Did he cry a lot, overly fussy?  Did he have tantrums or meltdowns until after an age in which it is common?  How is his peer interaction?  Is he floppy sometimes in which he just lays on the floor?  Does he speak too loudly?  And the biggie----------  how is he doing in school now?  Can he maintain focus?  Have friends?  Do his school work?  Maintain his behavior?  

I ask these questions because it paints a picture of your son for me to understand his development.  How he is doing in school is a big question because when a child has a delay or disorder, school is often a tough spot.

The sucking of his thumb is a sign of self soothing.  Kids make noises for different reasons.  Some kids do it to wake up their nervous system.  Some kids have auditory issues.  Some kids have tourettes.  I think that with the tic and the vocal sounds that I'd seek an appointment with your physician.  
Many kids with sensory issues are very atuned to scent.  They will smell food before they eat it for example.  Sensory is an issue with the nervous system.  An occupational therapist evaluates for this and treats it.
Do you think he does not get the signal to go to the bathroom?  If his nervous system is underactive, this could be the case.  Also kids when constipated will withhold and then can have accidents.  Punishing for this is insult to injury though.  Tell your husband to not do that.  No 10 year old boy would do this on purpose and he suffers emotionally from the punishment and great shame of it.  
If you could tell me more about your son, maybe I can be of futher help.  Until then, consider seeing his doctor for the tics, vocal sounds and issue with bathroom.  
good luck