Tics are fast, repetitive muscle movements that result in sudden and difficult to control body jolts or sounds.
They’re fairly common in childhood and typically first appear at around 5 years of age. Very occasionally they can start in adulthood.
Tics are not usually serious and normally improve over time. But they can be frustrating and interfere with everyday activities.
Tourette’s syndrome, a term that’s used when tics have lasted for more than a year, is covered separately.
Types of tics
There are many types of tic. Some affect body movement (motor tics) and others result in a sound (vocal or phonic tics).
Examples of tics include:
- 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
Tics can happen randomly and they may be associated with something such as stress, anxiety, tiredness, excitement or happiness. They tend to get worse if they’re talked about or focused on.
They often start with an unpleasant sensation that builds up in the body until relieved by the tic – known as an urge – although they can sometimes be partly suppressed.
Tourette’s syndrome is a condition that causes a person to make involuntary sounds and movements (TICs).
It usually starts during childhood, but the tics and other symptoms usually improve after several years and sometimes go away completely.
There’s no cure for Tourette’s syndrome, but treatment can help manage symptoms.
