Urge to make noises

[MTNYC]

I have an 8 year old son, PDD-NOS, who is asking for help. About 2 weeks ago he starting feeling the urge/need to make a sort of moaning sound. He describes it as a feeling in his throat and he has to make that sound. He says it happens all the time, although I have mostly noticed it at night. (Of course, that is when I see him most, but his teachers haven't noticed it.) Anyway, he is not happy about it. He wants to know if there is some way to stop the feeling. I have suggested humming or singing to himself, but it doesn't seem to help.

It doesn't really sound like a "tic" to me, or at least I haven't seen people describe them the way he does. But I don't know what it is.

Does anyone have any ideas or suggestions?

Thank you!

 

[Datura]

I don't know, what you described sounds a lot like a tic to me. You feel it coming, but you can't supress it, at least not for long. It's a lot like a sneeze or a cough that way.

In my own experience tics are often brought on by anxiety, though I understand they can also be brought on by excitement. Is there anything (other than the moaning sound) that is causing your son stress? Helping him deal with that issue is likely to help with the tic.

I can understand his frustration. It's no fun not being able to controll your own actions, especially when it's something conspicuous and offputting. He shouldn't feel bad about it though, it's just an involuntary coping mechanism, a way of realeasing stress. Fixating will only make him feel worse and probably make the tic worse. Try to take his mind off of it by engaging him engaged in regular activies.

Here is a link that corroberates a lot of what I just said. It's for Asperger's (not PDD-NOS) but the conditions are closely related and have recently been lumped together, so it should be applicable.
http://www.myaspergerschild.com/2009/01/aspergers-syndrome-and-tics.html

 

[Tom]

That sounds tricky to diagnose, but I think starting with a doctor is your best bet, and maybe a referral to a specialist.

 

[Tom]

This may sound odd, but is the "noise" actually doing more than making noise for him? For instance, could it be clearing his throat or vibrating his sinuses and causing some sort of relief? I say that, because I occasionally do a moaning thing that is more for my throat than the noise. At eight-years-old, he may have difficulty articulating the reason behind making the noise.

That is one possibility I was thinking too. Allergies, post nasal drip, that sort of thing. Though it being described as a moaning sound rather then clearing the throat has me stumped.

 

[grommet]

It sounds like a tic to me also. When I have them there does not seem to be anything I can do but release them. The urge is very strong. I think he might be happier if he could let them happen. It can makes things awkward in public but over the years I have tried to hide many things and I pay a price for it. My stress goes up and sometimes it can be really bad.

Sometimes I just need to tic.

 

[MTNYC]

Thank you all. I really appreciate the input. I don't have answer for him yet, but we are basically just "letting it be" -- so while he may not like it, at least we (mom and dad) are trying not to add any pressure or anxiety about it. I appreciate the allergy comments very much -- not something that would probably have occurred to me, and we are going to check it out.

 

[Nick12]

HI I JUST BEING HELPFULL MABY YOU NEED TO CHANGE HIS DIET THARE IS A BOOK CALLED TRACKING DOWN HIDDEN FOOD ALLERGY I HOPE I HELPED YOU I WISH YOU AND YOUR SON THE BEST DAY EVER