Tics — why they happen
Tics are among the things that worry parents most. But coming and going is a well-known feature of tics themselves.
01They usually start before age ten
A medical review describes the course like this: tics usually appear before age 10, come and go, and generally become milder with age.
Because of this, it can happen that you start doing something and the tics seem to lessen. Often this simply coincides with a period when they ease on their own.
02They often do not come alone
The same review notes that tics often occur together with ADHD, obsessive-compulsive features or other neuropsychiatric difficulties.
So it is not only the visible tics that matter. Sometimes what comes with them gets in the way more.
03What others see and what the person experiences
From the outside, tics are seen as noticeable movements or sounds. For the person, the experience is much broader.
It is widely known that saying “stop it” does not help. What does help in each case depends on the situation, and that is for a professional to decide.
In short
- They usually start before age 10
- Coming and going is the usual course — it is easy to mistake it for the effect of something
- They generally become milder with age
- They often occur together with ADHD, obsessive-compulsive features and other difficulties
Sources
- Robertson MM, Eapen V, Singer HS, Martino D, Scharf JM, Paschou P, et al. Gilles de la Tourette syndrome. Nature Reviews Disease Primers 2017;3:16097. PubMed
This article does not replace advice from a professional. Diagnosis and treatment are for a doctor.