My younger daughter (7 years old) has started constantly clearing her throat. It actually sounds more like a grunting sound. I didn't pay too much attention when I first noticed it (about a week ago) because I thought she might have a bit of excess phlegm. It has been over a week and she doesn't appear to have a cold or any other issue like allergies. I asked her why she was clearing her throat and she said she didn't know. I don't want to ask her to stop if it is something she can't control. Is this just a phase or something I should get checked out?
My older daughter went through something similar a year or two ago, and it was temporary. My husband said that he did something similar when he was a child. Is is something I need to bring up to a doctor or should I not make a big deal about it? Maybe this is a kind of temporary stress reliever? I had some nervous tics when I was about 11-12 years old. They lasted a couple of years, then went away on their own.
Have any of you had any experience with this? Thanks in advance for your input.
Apparently the constant throat clearing was a temporary habit, just like it was with my older daughter a few years back. It is interesting that my younger daughter doesn't like dairy products except for ice cream. She used to have milk with her cereal but now just prefers the cereal with no milk. I bought soy milk and she doesn't like it. Maybe it had something to do with a lactose intolerance. Their ped said to take away the milk and see what happened anyway, and for a while now there has been no more throat clearing. Thanks for your advice and comments!
My 7 year old does this when she has sinus drainage. If I were to ask her if she had drainage she would say no, but she doesn't really understand what it is. It's an automatic response, trying to clear her throat. Sometimes, she swallows funny too. Does she have allergies? You might want to try a decongestant or just have her blow her nose really hard. I wouldn't worry about it unless it persists.
Good morning, S.
IMHO, I would opt for a check up. I cannot tell you definitively that it is a tic, but can tell you that it was one of my sons tics.
I found it to be one of his most annoying tics (no, i never let on) so i understand your concern. However, in my son, it was one of the tics that just disappeared over time, reappearing only every now and again for just a small amount of time and disappearing again.
Is your daughter under stress for some reason? My son had been ticking a lot because he has a learning disability but was being reprimanded a lot in school by his teachers before his IEP was put into play.
Once his LD began to be taken into consideration and he was no longer being witched at by teachers, his ticking reduced in amount and in frequency dramatically.
Good luck to you.
my 10 year old daughter is doing the same thing. please let me know when you find out more info.
I could probably be alot more through on this - but it's late and I've only got a moment so just a couple of things. I had alot of tics growing up (we'll even into my late 20's). The throat clearing was one if them at one point in time. I couldn't explain it either (even now looking back on it - it just seemed to be something I was compelled to do to relieve a reoccuring pressure/itch. I also have always had alot of allergies/intollerances/senesitives (they are 3 different things). Perhaps your daughter is having a reaction to a food senesitivity. This is very common reaction (as in a senesitivity coming out as this, not quite an intollerance b/c her body is processing it & the gut is not involved, and not quite an allergy b/c the immune system is not greatly impacted, but still a reaction that can not be masked by treating the symptom (ex. gargeling, cough drop, etc). Just random thought that all connect (unfortunately). You may want to look at her recent diet changes or this could even be chemical related (have you changed detergent lately or something of the like).
Good luck,
B.
Mention this to your pediatrican. My granddaughter did this when she was in grade school also and as it turned it, it was caused by allergies. This "annoying habit" had gone on for a few years before it was checked. After she received some medication for it, she no longer has this throat clearing problem. We have adopted her younger cousin and she does this also. When we took her to pediatrician and mentioned it, it turns out she also has allergies. Same scenario for her...we now know what she is allergic to and is having to take shots but it is clearing up her throat clearing tic. This may not be the case in your situation but it is worth checking out with your doctor.
Hi S..
I do the same thing. My friend actually laughs sometimes because I do it so much.
If I have a lot of dairy or any kind, it leaves a film in my throat. Or if I eat something fried or something that I must be allergic to, I do the same thing. I always feel like I have stuff in my throat. My try taking her off as much dairy as possible. My family and I drink rice milk now and I still love cheese but try to get the 2%.
I hope this helps.
W. in Sellersburg
It sounds like you kind of answered your own question. Most kids have that at some time and they will outgrow it. Hers has been a week, you said yours lasted years. Dont fret the small things! If it persists and seems to get worse, you may want to have her doc check it out, just for peace of mind. God Bless.
Hi, my daughter does the same thing. I thought it was nothing at first and it would go away. Turns out she has asthma. Most times she does not realize she is doing it, but I and others do. My daughter stopped for a while but the past week and a half it has started again. May want to get it checked out just to make sure. The doctor said that many parents over look it thinking it is just a tick but it is actually asthma caused by allergies. She did not seem to have allergy symptoms but she was experiencing the asthma caused by allergies.
Good Luck.
My daughter does the same thing and has for a couple of years now. Her doctor says not to worry about it, but of course, I do!! He agrees with your husband -- that it will just go away, but we have a neighbor who is in his 40's who still does it. I'm with you, I don't want it to become a habit. I'll be watching your replies, but know that you're not alone. My daughter is 6.
K.
Take her to the pediatrican and make sure there is no real problem that needs to be addressed.
Does your daughter have itching nose, eyes and ears kind of outside allergies (hayfever)? As a young child, my son made a sound, kind of like a piggie snort. I had no clue, but his father knew immediately. Father and son have the same allergies. The back of his throat itched and that was a way of try to relieve the itch. I had never experienced it. Try some antihistimine like Claritin or Benedryl.
While I agree that you should tell your pediatrician about this the next time she has a visit, I don't think it's a big deal. I have (at least since my teens and maybe always) been a throat-clearer. My sister's husband is the same way. Maybe I have mild allergies; I am not sure. It doesn't bother me enough to take medication. Still, I clear my throat all of the time. I think that some people just don't have as strong a tolerance to having phlegm on their vocal cords. That causes the need to clear your throat. I think it's a sensitivity issue. It hasn't affected my life in any way. People seem to accept me just as I accept them for their little quirks. Good luck!
