Clearing Your Throat

I wouldn't be so quick to call it a habit. I suspect he has some post nasal drip whether it be from a lingering sinus infection or allergies. I would have the pediatrician write a prescription for a sinus x-ray to rule out a sinus infection. I would also try an antihistamine to dry up the drainage.

This may be more than a habit. It may be a tic. I would speak to his doctor.

He may not be just doing this out of habit. I have many allergies and probably a million more sensitivities, and some of them prompt my sinuses and throat to produce thick and very sticky goo. It's extremely irritating to hear MYSELF clearing my throat frequently, but it really is the only thing that temporarily relieves that ticklish, choking feeling of gunk clogging my throat. Oh, and a cup of hot tea sometimes helps.

This is a life-long affliction for me, and I frequently apologize to anyone near me when I'm in that state. But NOT doing it just makes the feeling grow more intense and demanding.

Try keeping a food diary for a couple of weeks to see whether this follows a pattern. Milk products are frequent instigators, as well as many artificial flavorings, for me.

Like others have said, post nasal drip could very likely be the cause. I developed this same issue after a horrendous sinus infection several months ago that had to be treated with antibiotics and steroids, even had to be scoped by ENT and was found to have reactive air way. (that is totally different than the clearing of throat, so don't go there with your son). I had not had anything like this before the sinus infection and I have never been the same since.
Because the post nasal drip has become an issue with my "voice box" due to thickness and increased amount of drainage, I have to clear more frequently.

My DR. told me to get a humidifier for my bedroom and turn it on about an hour before bed to get the room more humidified before sleeping, then leave it on all night. (Even if your furnace has a humidifier, it is not enough moisture in your house.)
Winter weather dries the atmosphere so much and secretions get stickier and thicker.

You might look into seeing if Mucinex would help him. Sudafed is very drying and it can keep one from sleeping, I would stay away from that with a child.

I would go see his pediatrician and make sure he does not have post nasal drip from allergies. If there are no medical reasons to clear his throat it could also be a tic which tends to increase with stress. We have a friend whose son blinks really obviously to the point where he nods his head almost while he blinks, and does so much more when he is tired or stressed. Childhood habits that do not interfere with everyday functioning often require no treatment. However, those that cause substantial distress, social isolation, or physical injury may warrant a therapeutic intervention.

probably just an allergy. but i've got a dad and two brothers who do this due to mild tourette's. get him checked out.
khairete
S.

I'm not sure it's a habit - it may be an irritant such as post nasal drip or a mucus tissue reaction to allergies, dryness, maybe even a food he cat process completely. You said it started with a bad cold - he may still have something going on in there. It's less likely that he does it out of boredom than that it's more irritating when he's quiet and not talking (as in church or maybe in school).

As someone who used to have a lot of allergies but who got rid of them by enhancing my diet (not eliminating things), I think you could consider other options. With all of the reactions people get to normal, harmless substances and environmental elements, I would start there. I work all the time educating people about ways to improve things like this, and I've seen astounding turnarounds in just a few months, and often much faster with kids (often around 2 weeks). Happy to help you more.

This could be a whole, whole lot of things -- it's pretty interesting, medically, how many different issues manifest in this one symptom. Bottom line, to rule out the small chance of something serious (it's a tiny chance, in kids, but just to be on the safe side...), you really need to book an appt. with the Ped.

That definitely sounds like a tic. In fact, this is the exact tic one of my students with Tourette's has (among a few others). If it is a tic, and not just a "bad habit", it is VERY hard for him to NOT do it. Boredom would have nothing to do with it, but an environment where you shouldn't do it (ie, church) would make the urge feel even more pronounced and hard to repress.

I see several other theories also down here. I'd look into it with the pediatrician.

I wonder if his drainage in his sinuses is thick. I'd try half a teaspoon of liquid Sudafed. I have my locally private drug store order it for me. It's from Rugby. Real Sudafed is hard to come by and the fake sudafed makes kids act nuts.

The big stores don't even know you can order it because they only get what they're told they can have....

If it makes the mucus runnier it might make the throat less sticky.

are you sure he doesn't have a sinus allergy and in turn, post-nasal drop... that can really may you clear your throat a lot..
my son who has dust allergies, whenever he gets a cold, it makes the allergies worse and vice versa...
this can last for months.. depending upon the air ...
you could try some children's zyrtec and if see if there is improvement..

good luck

He didn't do it for weeks, and then he did it in church, and it was bothersome enough that someone gave him a treat for it. (Well, a treat in his young eyes. A "lifesaver" for the person who gave it, hoping it would shut him up...)

Time to treat this like a behavioral issue and give him consequences for it. Tell him "This is your ONE reminder not to make that noise with your throat. If you do it again today, you lose "x" privilege." NO exceptions. Make it something he really doesn't want to lose. Something VERY important. If he keeps doing it because he has lost his privilege and is mad at you over it, then make him do a job that he doesn't like. THAT will change his attitude.

This is how you "help him out".

Go see an ENT. I bet his has an infection that just won't quit. Possibly his adenoids.

You are in OH and I don't suppose anything is blooming yet (it is here). My first thought is allergy. Have you taken him to the Ped? Maybe he has a sinus infection or some type of nasal drip. My daughter had a constant runny nose, not a cold. She had nasal polyps. It is worth getting an appointment.