22 yr old son increasingly odd behaviors

amother

Sun, May 05 2024, 6:07 am

Perhaps tics? Pulls at lips, sticks out tongue and makes weird sounds as if he's chewing when he's not, licks his fingers and pats down his (small) payos, odd facial behaviors like that. Has been doing occasional low-key odd movements for many years but it has become full blown to a constant thing over his year in Israel. He came home for pesach after being away for a year and we see this is what it has become.

What therapy can address this?

amother

Stoneblue

Sun, May 05 2024, 6:08 am

Sounds like Tourette’s there is medication that can help. It is also considered an anxiety disorder so therapy would also be helpful.

amother

Sun, May 05 2024, 6:15 am

amother Blush wrote:

I would have him checked for pandas/pans/Lyme but someone VERY literate. Is he otherwise neurotypical?

Do you have a recommendation?
Not neurotypical

I guess I'm looking to start with this kind of approach rather than the neurology/medication approach. Not to say I won't get there, but I don't want to start, and end, with that.

amother

Forestgreen

Sun, May 05 2024, 6:17 am

amother Blush wrote:

I would have him checked for pandas/pans/Lyme but someone VERY literate. Is he otherwise neurotypical?

Adults don’t have pandas/ pans. Could be Lyme but not the others

amother

Forestgreen

Sun, May 05 2024, 6:19 am

I don’t think children’s health is the correct forum for this. You say he’s not neurotypical does he have a diagnosis? These behaviors are not uncommon for asd and other things. Does he have any doctor following him?

amother

Blush

Sun, May 05 2024, 6:20 am

amother Forestgreen wrote:

Adults don’t have pandas/ pans. Could be Lyme but not the others

Adults can get autoimmune encephalitis which is the umbrella term for brain inflammation. Check out Susannah Cahallan's book Brain On Fire.

Regardless, OP said he's been having low level strange movements for years so likely is onset was a looong time ago.

amother

Forestgreen

Sun, May 05 2024, 6:22 am

amother Blush wrote:

Or it’s something else. These things can come with other mental/ neurological problems. There are way more things humans can have. Brain inflammation is one thing on a very long list. And also not likely to start at 22 if it’s brain inflammation which in itself is not so provable.

amother

Blush

Sun, May 05 2024, 6:22 am

amother OP wrote:

Where are you located?
And are you aware that unfortunately almost all of these specialists cost a lot of $$$ ?

amother

Blush

Sun, May 05 2024, 6:32 am

amother Forestgreen wrote:

Yes, movement disorders feature prominently in many psychiatric disorders, but a psych diagnosis is not a root cause. Brain inflammation is a root cause of many of those disorders, among other root causes. Op said she doesn't want to just go down the psych/neuro route. It seems she wants to try a more functional approach

amother

Forestgreen

Sun, May 05 2024, 6:34 am

Neurologists are covered with insurance. I’d definitely want a brain scan done. It seems like the obvious path to rule out physical problems. They also treat tic disorders the ones people have for life that are actual disorders.

amother

Blush

Sun, May 05 2024, 6:36 am

amother Forestgreen wrote:

If only people presenting with tics were able to get brain scans. Most of the time they're brushed off as tourettes. Or, if they already have another psych dx, it's blamed on that.

OP is your son on any medication?

amother

Forestgreen

Sun, May 05 2024, 6:36 am

amother Blush wrote:

What’s your medical degree? Yes they are root causes. Brain inflammation is not the answer to everything and anyone who thinks so is just not educated enough. Humans are complex with many things that are root causes. Including abnormalities, diseases, tumors, growths, and mental disorders. It’s ignorance to think it’s so simple to just say brain inflammation. Especially in the case of an adult where it can be something very serious that needs to be ruled out.

amother

Sun, May 05 2024, 6:37 am

amother Blush wrote:

Yes, exactly this. We live in the Midwest, but would travel to east coast. Perhaps a good doc would be willing to do teleheath visits as well. He is also going back to Israel for the upcoming zman, so perhaps someone there..?

imasinger

Sun, May 05 2024, 6:37 am

If he has ASD, it could be just less masking of stimming movements.

Definitely worth getting a neuro or neuropsych workup either way.

amother

Forestgreen

Sun, May 05 2024, 6:37 am

amother Blush wrote:

Neurologist do brain scans as part of the basic work up. It is very easy to get one. Why would you say this false piece of information?

amother

Blush

Sun, May 05 2024, 6:40 am

amother Forestgreen wrote:

Neurologist do brain scans as part of the basic work up. It is very easy to get one. Why would you say this false piece of information?

I took my child presenting with tics and other strange movements (among other neuro/behavioral symptoms) to a prominent neurologist in a Manhattan hospital and other than a physical and some bloodwork to make me happy they did not order any kind of imaging.