Tics
Tics are repetitive, fast muscle movements resulting in sudden body jolts or sounds that are hard to control. They are pretty standard in childhood and usually appear around five. Rarely will the condition start in adulthood.
Tics are not usually severe, and it improves over time, but they can be frustrating by interfering with everyday activities.
Tourette’s syndrome is when the tics last for more than a year.
Types of tics
There are multiple tics, including motor tics (body movements) and vocal tics (sound). Examples:
- Blinking, grimacing, or wrinkling the nose
- Banging the head
- Finger clicking
- Touching other people or things
- Grunting, sniffing, or coughing
- Repeating phrases or sounds (in some instances, this cannot be very respectful)
Tics can develop randomly and be associated with anxiety, stress, tiredness, excitement, or happiness. Tics tend to get severe when they are more focused on or talked about too much. The condition often starts as an unpleasant sensation and builds up an urge in the body.
Tics causes
There is no clear cause for tics, but they can be due to changes in the brain parts that control movement. The condition can pass through genes, which is the more likely cause in many cases.
Tics often come along with other conditions like:
- Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
Sometimes, illegal drugs can trigger tics and more severe health issues such as Huntington’s disease or cerebral palsy.
When to consult a doctor for tics?
Consult a doctor if the tics:
- Recurring or is more frequent or severe
- Cause social or emotional problems, like social isolation or embarrassment
- Cause discomfort or pain
- Interfere with everyday activities
- Accompanies with self-harm, anger, or depression
Recording a short video of the tic can help the doctor diagnose it, but make sure you don’t pay too much attention while filming, as it can worsen it.
Tics treatments
If the tic is mild and doesn’t cause any severe problems, it usually gets better on its own with no treatment.
Self-help tips, like reducing tiredness or avoiding stress, can help most people. But when the tics are severe, the doctor might recommend primary therapies like:
- Habit reversal therapy (helps children learn intentional movements)
- Comprehensive behavioral intervention for tics (helps to learn behavioral techniques to reduce tics)
- Exposure with response prevention (helps to get used to unpleasant sensations)
There are medications to help reduce tics that might come alongside psychological therapies or unsuccessful therapies.
Reviewed by – Dr. Priyanka, MBBS MD Microbiology
Page last reviewed: 16 JULY 2022