Dr ML - Persistent Blinking

[icedcoffee]

I will call a doctor when we get home but I’m about to leave on a week vacation.

I noticed on the flight down that my 7 year old is blinking heavily and often. Almost twitching? He says nothing hurts and his eyes feel fine.

Anyone had this happen? What could it be?

[charlatti]

No experience, but could it be dry eyes from the airplane?

[nicolewi]

Could be a tic. A physical thing he feels compelled to do. Even if it is a tic, they are common and often transient and will probably just go away. Best thing is not to draw attention to it.

[icedcoffee]

Mar 23, 2024 8:08:52 GMT -5 charlatti said:

No experience, but could it be dry eyes from the airplane?

It started before we got to the airport.

[icedcoffee]

Mar 23, 2024 8:11:19 GMT -5 nicolewi said:

Could be a tic. A physical thing he feels compelled to do. Even if it is a tic, they are common and often transient and will probably just go away. Best thing is not to draw attention to it.

This is what my gut says. Thanks! Hopefully it just passes.

[icedcoffee]

Why does this shit always come up on the way to vacation? LOL

[whattheheck]

Is he on any medication that this could be a side effect of that you hadn’t noticed before? This happens to my son with his ADHD meds.

[icedcoffee]

Mar 23, 2024 8:20:37 GMT -5 whattheheck said:

Is he on any medication that this could be a side effect of that you hadn’t noticed before? This happens to my son with his ADHD meds.

No meds.

[katfco]

DD had tics like that and they went away after a year or so. I remember the doctor saying it's pretty common around that age and they usually grow out of it.

[snapoutofit]

Mar 23, 2024 8:11:19 GMT -5 nicolewi said:

Could be a tic. A physical thing he feels compelled to do. Even if it is a tic, they are common and often transient and will probably just go away. Best thing is not to draw attention to it.

This gets my vote

[mofongo]

I don’t have kids, but I have a few friends whose kids went through a phase like this. I think they talked to the doctors and it eventually passed in both cases.

[nicolewi]

If he was especially nervous/excited/generally amped up about flying or vacation that could make the tic more likely to show up. Like the extra energy needs a place to go.

[icedcoffee]

Mar 23, 2024 8:32:28 GMT -5 nicolewi said:

If he was especially nervous/excited/generally amped up about flying or vacation that could make the tic more likely to show up. Like the extra energy needs a place to go.

Ok yeah it was his first flight so he was super excited! Thanks! 😊

[wesleycrusher]

Lack of sleep can also worsen tics. My DS has transient tics and for years they would reappear after a week away at summer camp.

[firedancer10288]

Mar 23, 2024 8:25:44 GMT -5 katfco said:

DD had tics like that and they went away after a year or so. I remember the doctor saying it's pretty common around that age and they usually grow out of it.

This word for word. She’s 16 now and it still reappears every once in awhile when she’s stressed and not sleeping well. My 8 year old nephew also has the same tic.

[eb777888]

David had a coughing tic around that age, I think 8. He grew out of it.

[felicity]

DH and DS both have tics. A lot of kids outgrow them, but even if they don’t it may not be a big deal.

DS is 9 and I have explained to him that he has tics so he knows what’s going on, and if it ever starts to bother him to let us know. So far he’s never seemed bothered by his tics.

[beerlover]

Mar 23, 2024 10:15:53 GMT -5 eb777888 said:

David had a coughing tic around that age, I think 8. He grew out of it.

I feel like my DS (7.5) has this. He is often coughing/throat clearing and he's not sick and has no issues breathing or anything. My H said he had tics when he was little so I was wondering if this was one, too.

[underwaterrhymes]

Our niece had a grunting tic when she was younger. She outgrew it.

A friend of mine has a blinking tic, but it doesn’t seem to affect him at all.

[shinyhappy]

Both of my kids have had various tics over the years and with time they have gone away. Agree with not drawing any attention to it. Just ignore it and most likely it’ll go away.

[eb777888]

Mar 23, 2024 17:44:41 GMT -5 beerlover said:

Mar 23, 2024 10:15:53 GMT -5 eb777888 said:

David had a coughing tic around that age, I think 8. He grew out of it.

I feel like my DS (7.5) has this. He is often coughing/throat clearing and he's not sick and has no issues breathing or anything. My H said he had tics when he was little so I was wondering if this was one, too.

 Apparently it's not uncommon. The doctor said to ignore it.