four year old with possible tourrettes

[tjaz08]

My son is 4 years old.  His father has tourette's.  Maybe 2 years ago my son started blinking his eyes constantly, this is one of his fathers tics also.  Then just as suddenly as it started it stopped.  The doctor said to watch it and keep a log when the tic started or ended.  The blinking never came back.  But he has many other odd behaviors for example he will touch things and then smell his hand.  A few months ago he kept putting his hands in his pants and then licking them.  No matter how much I told him not to do that and that it was disgusting he still did it.  Sometimes I wonder if he's doing these things for attention.  He is the middle child and has and older and younger sister.  He will also do this high pitched screech and makes all kinds of sounds.  He also latley has been cleaning everything all of the time without me even asking him to do it.  He is constantly running around and is very hyper.  Also he has always lined objects up by color and size and he loves building with blocks, every block will be neatly lined up.  These are just some of his behaviours.  Everyone thinks that this is normal boy behavior except me and my sister.  My mother always says I shouldn't "label" him and that then it will excuse his bad behavior.  I guess i'm just wondering how this sounds to all of you and anyone had any advice.  I know the fact that his father has tourettes increases his chances of developing it but I wonder sometimes if I'm overreacting because of it.  Please help, any suggestions or advice wouldbe appreciated.  Also real quick I wanted to mention that my son is also extremley smart and knows and can identify all of his letters and new all of his numbers, shapes and colors at a very young age.  But yet it is hard to carry on a conversation wit him and sometimes i feel like I don't really know how he feels about things.  I don't know if that's just his personality but he seems below a lot of the other kids his age.  I get so worried about him.  

[Soprano35]

I agree with Zepora, it sounds very much like Tourettes.  If you haven't already, you need to hook up with a pediatric neurologist for a diagnosis.  Having a diagnosis will help you know how to handle these symptoms and will be of use when he starts school.  Very often, Tourettes patients also have OCD behaviors.  A lot of the things you described sound like they may be related to that.  I don't think these things are to get attention.  It can be hard to educate and get family members on board, but it is really important in order to help your son.  

My son is of above I.Q.  He tested in the gifted range and I would say that is accurate because he is now a 4.0 student in the honors chemical engineering program at a state university.   I tell you this because when he was young he was a very "outside the lines" kid.  He has a wonderful personality and gets along so well socially, but it took him a long time to get pulled together in some of those areas.  The steadfast love and acceptance by family will be what keeps your son's self esteem intact and help him to a successful future.

Always feel like you can help you along the way.

[Zepora]

This definitely sounds to me like he's showing all of the symptoms of Tourette. Almost  full-blown. You are not over-reacting, these are all definite symptoms of Tourette, and the fact that your husband has it, why hesitate any longer? Please know that I am there for you, any advice or help I can give, anytime. I'm not very up to date, but my son was born with Tourette's Syndrome, so I do know a thing or two. It is a frightening disease, but you must deal with it, the sooner, the better. And quit taking your mother's advice about labeling him, I've never heard such nonesense. The child needs your help, right now
and you definitely have a right to be worried about him. Please, let me know how it goes, and keep in touch, anyway.
Have faith and be strong,
that's why we're here, to help each other, never asking for anything in return, that's what it's all about!
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