When a Tic isn’t a Nervous Habit (PANDAS – Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections)
Kids sometimes pick up funny habits, such a clearing their throats, scrunching their noses, or using certain words or phrases frequently. Because bringing attention to nervous habits tends to make them worse, I typically advise parents to try and ignore whatever annoying little thing their kid is doing to see if it resolves on its own. Usually the child outgrows the habit, and that’s the end of that funny horking noise, annoying nose sniffling, or unusual head-jerking motion that originally had mom or dad so concerned. Sometimes, however, the habit doesn’t resolve, warranting further medical care. These children are often seen...
