My 15 month old is starting to do this thing with his eyes when he's tired where he is blinking a lot (sort of like a long blink, where his eyes are closed for a long blink) and rolling his eyes back. He's not falling asleep or nodding off. He only does it at night about an hour before bed, or when he first gets up in the morning. He will be quiet and still and blink several of these long blinks in a row, almost as if he was in slow motion. I noticed it first a few weeks ago, and brushed it off as nothing. Then my husband noticed it and pointed it out to me. This is our 3rd son, so we have an idea when we see something that's out of the ordinary. Could it be a funny tick he does? Could it be a petit mal seizure? We have scheduled an appt. with his Dr., and have taken video of his "episodes" but are curious if others may have any input.
My youngest son and now his daughter both did a strange little blink starting around the age of 18 months or 2. I don't remember their eyes ever seeming to roll back into their head, just a long blink or several in a row. My doctor told me that it was caused by dry eyes. I certainly would be checking in with a doctor in your son's case, always better to be safe then sorry.
Hi Karen...I think it could be an absent seizure. Especially if he is still and quiet and they usually only last a short amount of time. Is he able to be awakened from this state?
A child who used to come to my family child care home had some episodes that sound similar to this. His parents were quite concerned and went to several doctors. The last one they saw was from the Mayo Clinic (an expert on epilepsy and Tourettes), but after he examined their son, he pronounced it "childhood tics" and addvised them just to ignore the blinking and behaviors. The behaviors dissapated over the next few months and seem to be gone now.
My good friend's son did this after the 15 month old immunizations. She was concerned about a reaction, but the pediatrician assured her all was fine. Four years later, she still had this going on, so they took him to a neurologist who did all sorts of tests and proclaimed him normal.
Definitely take him in, and follow through on any concerns you have.
I would look into Tourette Syndrome.
Hi K.,
In my opinion, you are making the right move in checking these episodes out with your doctor. I am also very glad that you have video of the episodes, it will be tremendously helpful. From what you describe, I think it may be seizure related activity. I work with seizure patients in an epilepsy specialized center, as an EEG Technologist. If the doctors want to test for it, your son will be scheduled for an EEG. I will tell you honestly that the application of electrodes for the test can be a bit scary for kids. Sometimes it depends on the technique used and very much upon the tech that does it. The testing itself, however, shouldn't be too scary. I hope all goes well, and you get some answers to put your mind at ease. Best of luck!
My newborn has some strange and not normal even for a newborn eye movement and I suggest making a appointment with a pediatric opthamologist(eye doctor) because I first took my daughter to her regular pediatrian, then we did a catscan to rule out something, and now we are going to the eye doctor and because we have to use a pediatric one the wait for a appointment is horrible some places were booked until March'09. So I would make a appoitment now just to be safe and if need be cancel it later on. I'm hitting myself not making a appointment a month ago when I was worried, I just made our appt. yesterday and after calling several places finally found somewhere we could get in, but not til late Dec. It's probaly highly likely your Ped.Doctor may suggest it anyways.
I would suggest that you have your Son see a neurogist, as it could be Tourette's, don't be alarmed as living with Tourette's is managable as my Son,(Now 25 and married) had a mild form and lives with it just fine. So have your Son checked out and best of luck in your journey.
Hi Karen! I would definitely have him checked for seizures. Document the movements when they happen, time of day, length of time they last, and reaction after the movements happen. It really does NOT sound like tourettes. Most likely he is having some seizure activity. Clear, accurate documentation will be an asset for when you go to the Dr.
Ah! I just read that you took video of the episodes! You are way ahead of me!
Also, I knew a little girl that had horrible seizure activity, daily. As a last resort her parents took her to a chiropractor. It turned out that her neck was turned in such a way that it compressed a nerve. So, you could check out alternative treatments to go along with seeing a medical Dr.
Good luck to you! You are very attentive parents!
Here's a website that helps to provide free eye exams to infants. It can find a Dr in your area IF you decide to go that route.
I am glad to hear that you made an appt with the doctor. I think it would be a good idea if they decided to do some tests. It sounds as though it may be a seizure that may be triggered by being tired. There are tests they do to check for epilepsy and it would be a good idea for them to do that test, it measures the brain waves and one option is to do it sleep deprived. My son had the test done after he was shaken to check for seizures. Good luck and I hope all goes well.
