need advice..how to stop an annoying habit

[MsMe]

I have a DCB (4) who has developed a very annoying habbit...clearing his throat (souds kinda like a growl.) every few minutes...sometimes seconds.

He also does it at home and Mom thinks it is from when he had a cold a few months ago and had flem in there....he learned to clear it out and now WON"T STOP.

We agreed to ask him to take a drink or swallow when he started doing it. When I tell him to do with of these things he yells to me "I don't need too!" and when I reply then stop clearing he shouts again, " I'm NOT!" I am at a loss. He is in trouble most of the day for his attitude (yelling, bossing, being sassy). I am havign a hard tiem keeping my cool with him and need some advice on other things to try to get him to STOP!!!!!!!!!!!

He still does it ALL day long!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am losing my mind it is so annoying!!!!!

[abigailrw5]

Not to say this is what he has. I have no idea! But my husband has tourettes syndrome and one of his vocal ticks is throat clearing. I'm used to it but sometime it stilll drives me crazy. He has had tourettes since he was a child. Now we are seeing some signs in our little neice possibly. Just though I'd mention it. Sorry he is so troublesome!

[MsMe]

Interesting....I never would have thought of that tourettes, but that would explain why he says "I can't" when I ask him to stop.

Tourettes would be a worse case..and may be making a "mountain out of a mole hill" but I think I will do some research anyway.

Is there an age range that is common for symptoms to start? He is a very restles child and is hardly ever still...

[BigMama]

Yes, my nephew also has Tourette's and literally cannot help but to constantly clear his throat.

[greenhouse]

Not to say this is what he has. I have no idea! But my husband has tourettes syndrome and one of his vocal ticks is throat clearing. I'm used to it but sometime it stilll drives me crazy. He has had tourettes since he was a child. Now we are seeing some signs in our little neice possibly. Just though I'd mention it. Sorry he is so troublesome!

This-but I wouldn't mention it to dcp.

[MsMe]

This-but I wouldn't mention it to dcp.

oh yes, I don't plan on saying anything. Thinking of this as possible I will maybe be able to tollerate it a little better....maybe he really can't help it?

[abigailrw5]

I thought that knowing he may not be able to help it might help. I would say anything to the parent either. But if you see other signs of ticks I might.

[e.j.]

The first thing that popped into my head was asthma. It wouldn't explain the poor behavior but the two may not be connected.

http://preventdisease.com/news/articles/throat_clearing_first_sign_asthma.shtml

[Unregistered]

Yes, I have a 4 year old boy who went through several months of annoying throat clearing. Turned out to be allergies.

[daycare]

I started doing this when I was around 6 years old and my teacher is the one who called my parents at home about it. My throat clearing was driving everyone nuts.

Turns out that I have a goiter on my thyroid and vocal cords. it has been there my whole life. I recall the doctors running test after test on me when I was a child to make sure that it was not a cancerous.

Over the years, it has gotten bigger, but it still has not affected my heath otherwise. it could possibly effect me should it continue to grow.

I would ask the parents to take the child to the doctors to make sure everything is ok.

[Ariana]

Yeah I agree with taking him to the DR. Everything mentioned above sounds possible. As well it could be an inner ear itch that he's scratching by clearing his throat? I had allergies to shell fish and my inner ears would itch and this would be my only relief.

He needs to be checked I think.

[Kaddidle Care]

oh yes, I don't plan on saying anything. Thinking of this as possible I will maybe be able to tollerate it a little better....maybe he really can't help it?

This is what my son's pediatrician told me. He has allergies and when there's gook going down the throat he does it. YES it's very annoying but it means that whatever they are using (or aren't using) isn't working.

My son stopped the throat clearing and then started this eye blinking thing. He's on different allergy meds and nose spray. The blinking stopped.

I thought we were done with fall allergy season and stopped the meds. MISTAKE!!! He's doing the throat clearing thing again. He also does this thing to clear his ears that's sort of like a snort. Oh Lordy! This child!!!

He's back on the meds again. Hoping it doesn't turn into another infection.

[DaycareMama]

Again not saying its what I think it is but I also had a child many years ago who did the same thing and it was also Tourettes.

[abigailrw5]

Interesting....I never would have thought of that tourettes, but that would explain why he says "I can't" when I ask him to stop.

Tourettes would be a worse case..and may be making a "mountain out of a mole hill" but I think I will do some research anyway.

Is there an age range that is common for symptoms to start? He is a very restles child and is hardly ever still...

My husband heard tourettes symptoms can start as early as age 2. His mom says she noticed them with him that early.

[familyschoolcare]

If it is tourettes, then he will need to be "allowed" to do "something" my nephew had a parent that was trying to get him to stop all his ticks, he had about 20. The doctor said you must choose atleast one perferable 3 to allow him to do because he cannot hlep it.

The point I am trying to realy to you is that if there is something else that he occasional does that acts like a "tick" that you find less bothersome to you, you might be able to get him to stop the through clearing and do that instead. However, through clearing is better than alot of the "ticks" that people get.