Tics — sudden, repetitive, non-rhythmic movements or vocalisations — are more common in children than most people realise. For parents, they can be alarming and confusing. This guide explains what tics are, when they become a disorder, and how to support your child.
What Are Tics?
Tics are sudden, rapid, recurrent, non-rhythmic motor movements or vocalisations. They are involuntary — or more precisely, they are experienced as difficult or impossible to resist.
Motor tics include: eye blinking, head jerking, shoulder shrugging, facial grimacing, sniffing, touching objects or people.
Vocal tics include: throat clearing, sniffing, grunting, humming, or in some cases, words or phrases.
Tics are extremely common in childhood — up to 20% of children experience tics at some point. Most transient tics resolve on their own within a year.
The DSM-5 Tic Disorders
Tourette’s Disorder: Multiple motor tics AND at least one vocal tic, present for more than one year, with onset before age 18.
Persistent (Chronic) Motor or Vocal Tic Disorder: Single or multiple motor tics OR vocal tics (but not both), present for more than one year.
Provisional Tic Disorder: Single or multiple motor and/or vocal tics, present for less than one year.
What Causes Tic Disorders?
Tic disorders are neurological in origin, involving differences in basal ganglia function and dopamine pathways. They have a strong genetic component and are often associated with ADHD and OCD.
Tics are typically worse with stress, excitement, fatigue, and illness. They often improve during focused activities and during sleep.
How Are Tic Disorders Managed?
Many children with mild tics do not need intervention — education and reassurance for the child and family are sufficient.
For more significant tics:
Comprehensive Behavioural Intervention for Tics (CBIT): A highly effective behavioural therapy that teaches children to become aware of the urge to tic and to perform a competing response. Research shows this is as effective as medication for many children.
Parent and teacher education: Understanding tics reduces stress and removes unhelpful reactions (drawing attention to tics, asking the child to stop) that can worsen them.
Managing co-occurring conditions: ADHD, anxiety, and OCD commonly co-occur with tic disorders and often require their own treatment.
What Omora Care Wants You to Know
Tics can be distressing — for children and parents alike. But with the right understanding and support, most children with tic disorders lead full, happy, socially connected lives.
The most important thing you can do is not draw attention to the tics, not ask your child to stop, and seek professional guidance if the tics are causing significant distress or functional impairment.
You do not have to navigate this alone.
