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What Causes A 2 Year Old To Stick His Tongue Out?
Question: My 2 year 2 months old son n keeps his tongue mostly outside his mouth. We keep pushing it back but he again brings it out. Is this indication of any problem? What can we do to train him to keep tongue inside?
Brief Answer:
Looks like a habit disorder
Detailed Answer:
Hi....by what you quote this looks like a habit disorder. Nevertheless I have a few questions for you -
1. When did this start?
2. Does his skin look or feel coarse to touch?
3. How is his attaining of normal developmental milestones?
4. While doing so or keeping the tongue out- when you call him, will he respond?
5. Is there any family history of thyroid problems?
6. How frequently in a day does he do this?
Kindly get back to me with answers so that I will be in a better position to understand and guide you further.
Regards - Dr Sumanth
Looks like a habit disorder
Detailed Answer:
Hi....by what you quote this looks like a habit disorder. Nevertheless I have a few questions for you -
1. When did this start?
2. Does his skin look or feel coarse to touch?
3. How is his attaining of normal developmental milestones?
4. While doing so or keeping the tongue out- when you call him, will he respond?
5. Is there any family history of thyroid problems?
6. How frequently in a day does he do this?
Kindly get back to me with answers so that I will be in a better position to understand and guide you further.
Regards - Dr Sumanth
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Hi doctor,
1. This started we about 3 months back I.emat age of I year 11 months
2. His skin does not look,coarse.
3. He is behind on development milestones. He has infantile spasms.
4. He responds to our callsmevennsuring tongue out. He does not seem lost.
5. Her mom has thyroid after his delivery.
6. He does this about 50% of his awake time.
Please advise
1. This started we about 3 months back I.emat age of I year 11 months
2. His skin does not look,coarse.
3. He is behind on development milestones. He has infantile spasms.
4. He responds to our callsmevennsuring tongue out. He does not seem lost.
5. Her mom has thyroid after his delivery.
6. He does this about 50% of his awake time.
Please advise
Brief Answer:
This looks like a seizure variant to me - he needs a video EEG
Detailed Answer:
Hi....by what you quote and putting together the history points you have provided to me, I feel that this could be seizure variant.
The best and only way to find out if it is a seizure or not is to do a video EEG. In this way the neurologist interpreting the EEG would see the body or tongue movements of the kid and can determine if it is a seizure. I suggest you get a video EEG and not a regular EEG done.
The other possibility is a hypothyroidism but it is remote as the kid is not keeping the tongue consistently out. But as the family history is suggestive, I would suggest you get as free T4 and TSH done.
Please get back to me after the tests please.
Regards - Dr. Sumanth
This looks like a seizure variant to me - he needs a video EEG
Detailed Answer:
Hi....by what you quote and putting together the history points you have provided to me, I feel that this could be seizure variant.
The best and only way to find out if it is a seizure or not is to do a video EEG. In this way the neurologist interpreting the EEG would see the body or tongue movements of the kid and can determine if it is a seizure. I suggest you get a video EEG and not a regular EEG done.
The other possibility is a hypothyroidism but it is remote as the kid is not keeping the tongue consistently out. But as the family history is suggestive, I would suggest you get as free T4 and TSH done.
Please get back to me after the tests please.
Regards - Dr. Sumanth
Note: For further queries related to your child health, Talk to a Pediatrician. Click here to Book a Consultation.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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