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What Causes Frequent And Repetitive Movement In Mouth In A Child?

Posted on Fri, 7 Oct 2016

Question: Hi, I have a son and out of the corner of my eye I can see him twitching and/or moving his mouth but he's not saying anything. He's done this for a long time, since his childhood days. He was diagnosed with ADHD as a child. Is there some kind of medical advice on this ? It's not spasms and he doesn't yell or say anything, nothing comes out of his mouth at all. Since childhood and will be 30 years old soon.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Pradeep Kumar Jain (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Most likely a tic disorder

Detailed Answer:
Hello

Thanks for asking on this platform

I have gone through the details.
Frequent and repetative movement which is not associated with alteration in sensorium with very prolonged history in a know case of ADHD gives a clue towards the possibility of Tic disorder.
Tic disorder or tourette disease is common in person/child with ADHD.
In most of the cases where it is severe it does not need any specific treatment and usually improves with the treatment of ADHD.
I would request you to discuss this with your physician and also to rule out any possibility of seizure disorder.

I hope this helps.
Please let me know if you have any questions.
Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Pradeep Kumar Jain (12 minutes later)

One more question about this. My son will be sitting down or when were even walking and I'll look out the corner of my eye and it's like he's talking to himself, but he's not saying anything. As far as facial movement, besides the movement of his mouth, I haven't noticed any but need to watch more. He's been doing this since he was a child and was picked on in school. He's pretty much a loner and I think this has something to do with it. Well maybe not this, but being bullied and picked on in school. I have asked him about it and he just says, it's a release of energy. I've asked him to explain that to me and he shrugs it off. I'm going to ask him again about it and make me tell me why he does it, and in detail. But with what I've told you so far, do you think it's what you've told me already ?

Answered by Dr. Dr. Pradeep Kumar Jain (12 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Self talking and tics are common in persons with ADHD

Detailed Answer:
Hi

After going through the history to me it appears more of self talking rather than tics or any other problem.
Self talking is common in ADHD and better you should discuss with your treating physician.Proper councelling and behavioral treatment helps in this condition.

Regards

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar