Tics And Facial Twitches
Twitches or tics usually involve the muscles of the face, forehead and eyelids. They occur in 20% of children and reflect the spilling over of emotional tension. They are involuntary and not deliberate.
Here are some tips on tackling the twitch:
- First: Help your child relax in general. Tics are a barometer of the pressure he is feeling. Make sure your child has some free time every day.
- Second: Identify and remove stresses. Whenever your child has a flurry of tics, try to determine what is triggering them. By all means, criticize your child less about grades, his messy room, his table manners, and other minor issues.
- Third: Ignore tics when they occur. If you call them to your child’s attention, they will get worse.
- Fourth: Avoid any punishment for tics. This is not a bad habit that can be broken. Punishment will intensify tics.
Finally: If the tics are not markedly better after trying this approach for one month, you need to see your child’s healthcare provider.
Disclaimer: This information is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice. It is provided for educational purposes only. You assume full responsibility for how you choose to use this information.
Author and Senior Reviewer: Barton D. Schmitt, M.D. FAAP
Last Review: 6/1/2008
Last Revised: 6/1/2000
Copyright 1994-2008 Barton Schmitt, M.D. Parent Advice Messages
