A motor tic is a fast, repetitive series of muscle movements that result in sudden and difficult to control body jolts or sounds. Tics are very common in children from the age of 5 years and it is estimated that 20% of children (1 in 5) experience motor tics at some point. The vast majority of motor tics resolve themselves over time with reassurance for the child without the need for any treatment. Tics and other conditions Tics can occur on their own. In some cases, they are also associated with anxiety, stress or panic disorders. They can be more common in children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) or Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD).
What are some of the signs of tics?
blinking, wrinkling the nose or grimacing
jerking or banging the head
clicking the fingers
touching other people or things
coughing, grunting or sniffing
repeating a sound or phrase – in a small number of cases, this may be something obscene or offensive.
What makes tics worse?
Stress
Tiredness
Boredom
There can be different triggers for each child.
What helps reduce tics?
Distraction and concentrating on other activities which interest your child
Exercise
Better sleep.
How can I help my child?
Here are some suggestions of ways to help manage tics and reduce worry:
Try to ignore your child’s tic and not talk about it too much – drawing attention to it may make it worse
Reassure your child that everything’s OK and there’s no reason for them to feel embarrassed
Ensure that people having regular contact with your child are aware of your child’s tics and explain how best they can respond if one occurs
If your child is finding school difficult, talk to their teacher about ways of dealing with this. For example, it may help if they’re allowed to leave the classroom if their tics are particularly bad.
What are some co-morbidities associated with motor tics
Some co-morbidities are- ADHD, ASD, LD, OCD, Anxiety and Depression
Do Tics need treatment?
Tics are not usually serious and they do not damage the brain. They usually go away on their own. If they are mild and do not cause problems, they might disappear as quickly as they appeared. The treatment modalities are:
- Behavioural therapy
- Medications- Atypical antipsychotics: Risperidone, Aripiprazole; Alpha2 agonist: clonidine