Ideas needed for head-hitting tic
Question:
On Thu, 17 May 2001 15:08:12 GMT, TSNowWhat? <tourettenoww…@home.com> wrote: >"Vicki L. Hill" wrote: >> This was the 3rd ‘mild’ >> head injury for him in 3 1/2 years. >Oh, darn, that is really unfair. >Have you looked into the soft helmets used in Taw-Kwan-Do? >You can get them at martial arts places …
An interesting idea. I talked to Andrew about it, and we will keep that option open. Since those helmets cover most of the head, and it is getting summertime hot here, we were afraid that might be too warm. (But a wonderful idea for other times of the year!) For now, I got a piece of foam rubber and cut out a ‘halo’ – more the width of a sombrero, Andrew points out. It fits snug on his head – just like an angel pulling her halo down over her forehead. When the arm swings up, it hits the foam rubber. Seems to solve about 75% of the problem – however, if the ticcing continues for too long, each swing of the arm moves the halo slightly until it finally pops off his head and the fist hits the forehead. Fortunately, this tic is mainly early in the morning or in the evening, so he only has to wear this halo at home. (<g> He said he looked like one of the mushroom people in Nintendo Mario games, with the big foam ‘mushroom cap’ on his head!) Vicki H.
Response:
The foam rubber halo is a very creative solution to this head hitting tic! Congratulations to you, and to Andrew. Benita
Response:
"Vicki L. Hill" wrote: > On Thu, 17 May 2001 15:08:12 GMT, TSNowWhat? > <tourettenoww…@home.com> wrote: > >Oh, darn, that is really unfair. > >Have you looked into the soft helmets used in Taw-Kwan-Do? > >You can get them at martial arts places … > An interesting idea.
Would be even better if I could spell <g> ! – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I talked to Andrew about it, and we will keep > that option open. Since those helmets cover most of the head, and it > is getting summertime hot here, we were afraid that might be too warm. > (But a wonderful idea for other times of the year!) > For now, I got a piece of foam rubber and cut out a ‘halo’ – more the > width of a sombrero, Andrew points out. It fits snug on his head – > just like an angel pulling her halo down over her forehead. When the > arm swings up, it hits the foam rubber. Seems to solve about 75% of > the problem – however, if the ticcing continues for too long, each > swing of the arm moves the halo slightly until it finally pops off his > head and the fist hits the forehead. Fortunately, this tic is mainly > early in the morning or in the evening, so he only has to wear this > halo at home. (<g> He said he looked like one of the mushroom people > in Nintendo Mario games, with the big foam ‘mushroom cap’ on his > head!)
Maybe you can try to anchor the foam with a wrestling headgear? They basically go around the head, and cover only the ears … > Vicki H.
– Tourette Syndrome – Now What? http://members.home.net/tourettenowwhat
Response:
My 10 yo son Andrew has tics as a result of a mild head injury. The tics only occur in the weeks following a blow to the head, and he accidentally got hit again about 3 weeks ago. This was the 3rd ‘mild’ head injury for him in 3 1/2 years. We know from experience the last time around that these tics don’t respond to Haldol; been there, done that. Tenex caused unacceptable side effects. Ativan caused a dangerous reaction. (This is a kid who is VERY sensitive to meds.) So there are lots of reasons to not try to treat these particular tics via medication at this time. But the last 3 days, one of the tics has been his right arm swinging up and hitting himself in the forehead. The right frontal lobe is the area of the injury, so this is the LAST thing this child needs to be doing. Open to any and all suggestions as to how to minimize the effect of this tic. He’s tried lying on the hand or sitting on it. He’s tried keeping the hand squeezed between the cushions of the sofa. He actually asked his dad last night if he would get some duct tape and tape the arm down so it couldn’t hit his head…but I fear that could strain the arm muscle when the tic occurs. We’ve considered a helmet, but that would just mean his fist striking a hard helmet. I’m about to go buy some foam rubber and make him a ‘halo’ to put around his head for protection unless I can come up with a better solution. Ideas? Vicki H.
Response:
"Vicki L. Hill" wrote: > This was the 3rd ‘mild’ > head injury for him in 3 1/2 years.
Oh, darn, that is really unfair. Have you looked into the soft helmets used in Taw-Kwan-Do? You can get them at martial arts places … — Tourette Syndrome – Now What? http://members.home.net/tourettenowwhat
