How a toddler’s tics and tourette’s syndrome disappeared with therapy
Hille, Mother of 6-Year-Old Kris
Kris was just 4 years old when he started coughing and making noises. He had developed tics. Since Kris’s coughs were daily and wouldn’t go away, I took him to see a family doctor. The doctor suggested that these tics might be Tourette’s syndrome and reassured us that they would likely stop on their own over time. For a few months, we lived with the belief that we just needed to wait.
However, after about a year, the tics began to seriously disturb our family. From the moment he opened his eyes in the morning until he fell asleep at night, there was not a ten-second break without him making a sound. Family members, relatives, and acquaintances all commented on it. Other children would tell him, “Please don’t make that sound.” We went back to the family doctor and also had Kris examined by an ear, nose, and throat specialist. No physical problems were found, so we were left hoping he would eventually grow out of it.
The picture is illustrative. Image by Freepik.
It was particularly difficult to travel with Kris on public transport.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, I felt very uncomfortable whenever he coughed on the bus every few minutes. It was emotionally exhausting. I often asked him if he felt unwell. He always replied, “No.” He told me he didn’t know why he made those noises.
Then we discovered MER Biofeedback therapy through an acquaintance. The vocal tics became less frequent. Kris no longer made noises constantly every day, whereas before, there wasn’t even a ten-second pause. It seems to me that his coughing is related to how tired he is at the time. Now, there are days when I hardly notice his coughing at all.
The picture is illustrative. Image by Freepik.
In hindsight, I now realize that Kris’s tics, also known as Tourette’s, weren’t just coughing and vocalizations.
Whenever he wore a hat or helmet, he would often stop, scratch himself, and say he was itching. That doesn’t happen anymore. Additionally, Kris used to be very restless while watching TV, constantly pacing back and forth on the sofa, moving his chin oddly, and making noises. That has stopped as well. We’ve also noticed that Kris used to blink much more frequently, so much so that we suspected he might have an eye condition. Those doubts have vanished because the frequent blinking is gone.
Kris’s behavior has also changed. After kindergarten, he used to play computer games or look at his phone, but since starting therapy, he has lost interest in smart devices. He used to get very angry, but now he no longer reacts so violently. Overall, he is much calmer.
Kris also had a significant fear of closed rooms because he was accidentally locked in a room with other children while visiting relatives in the countryside. After that incident, Kris couldn’t go to the bathroom with the door closed, nor would he allow his bedroom door to be closed at home. In unfamiliar places, he still doesn’t allow the door to be closed, but in familiar environments, it’s no longer a problem.
We have no idea why Kris developed tics (Tourette’s syndrome). We don’t know of any major experiences that could have triggered them. The appearance of the tics coincided with the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, but we can’t say for sure if they are related.
Kris and I continue to attend therapy. I believe it will help him cope better with fears and tensions in the future. In such cases, all opportunities must be explored without waiting.