Baby shrugs and shrinks his neck

Although the country has now allowed for a second child, many families still choose to have only one child. It can be said that the status of a child is very precious. When children are still growing up, parents are most worried about their health problems. Some parents find that their babies shrug their shoulders and shrink their necks. This phenomenon may be caused by tics, and it must be taken seriously. We must fully understand this disease and respond to any abnormalities in our children in a timely manner.

If your baby shrugs his shoulders and shrinks his neck, it is likely due to tics. Tourette syndrome in children is a chronic neuropsychiatric disorder, also known as multiple tics. It refers to a tic disorder characterized by involuntary, sudden, multiple tics accompanied by explosive vocalizations and foul language. It is more common in males, and most patients develop the disease between the ages of 4 and 12. Patients often have multiple comorbidities, such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), behavioral problems, etc.

Clinical manifestations

Tourette syndrome is characterized by involuntary, sudden, rapidly repetitive muscle twitches, often accompanied by explosive, involuntary vocalizations and obscenities. The tic symptoms start from the face and neck and gradually spread downwards. The locations and forms of twitching vary, such as blinking, squinting, pouting, shaking head, shrugging shoulders, shrinking neck, stretching arms, swinging arms, straightening chest, bending over, rotating body, etc. Vocal tics manifest as guttural sounds and roars, which may gradually turn into stereotyped swearing, the use of obscene words, etc. Some children gradually develop language and movement disorders after involuntary tics, and some children may also exhibit behaviors such as imitating language, imitating movements, and imitating expressions.

Involuntary laryngitis appears relatively late in children, with a small number appearing early and most appearing 6 to 7 years after onset. The child's condition often fluctuates, sometimes mild and sometimes severe, and sometimes it can improve on its own for a period of time. The location, frequency, and intensity of tics may vary. The symptoms may worsen when the child is nervous, anxious, tired, or sleep deprived; they may improve when the child is mentally relaxed and disappear after sleep. The intelligence of the children is generally normal, but some children may have psychological problems such as inattention, learning difficulties, and emotional disorders.