What are the 3 types of tic disorders?

Is something unusual happening to you?

Photo by Mahyar Yeganeh on Unsplash

Can you imagine sitting in a public place, such as a park or a restaurant, and suddenly, any part of your body starts to move or some "unusual" sounds start coming from your throat?

Yes, it could happen, and this is calledtic disorder. Recognizing different types of tic disorders is the first start to managing a tic.

Tics are irregular, uncontrollable, and repetitive muscle movements that can happen in any part of the body.

A tic disorder is a condition that involves the central nervous system. This disorder usually starts in childhood and first appears at approximately 5 years of age. Very occasionally, they can start in adulthood. Tics often improve or stop completely over time, with the worst symptoms usually appearing between age 8 until the early teens.

In most cases, tics resolve within a year. However, in some cases, they can turn into a chronic (or long term) type. Tourette syndrome is a condition when tics have lasted more than a year.

Here are three types of common tic disorders:

1. Provisional tic disorder: this often shows up when kids are younger, and it affects about 20 out of every 100 school-age children. It's usually diagnosed if a child experiences one or more motor (physical) or vocal tics for at least one month but for less than one year.

2. Persistent (chronic) motor or vocal tic disorder: With chronic tics, a child might have one or more tics that don’t go away. It lasts more than a year. These tics can be either physical movements or sounds, but not both. They usually start before age 18 and happen to fewer than 1 in 100 kids.

3. Tourette syndrome: Tourette syndrome is a more serious type of tic disorder. With Tourette syndrome, a child will have both physical and vocal tics. About 1 in 162 kids in the U.S. have it, and it usually starts between ages 5 and 10. The number of tics can go up and down over time. For some, the condition might get better as they grow older, but for others, it might get worse.

The exact cause of tics is unknown, but some researchers believe it comes from changes in brain areas controlling movement. Tics often run in families, so it might be genetic. They might appear alongside conditions like ADHD and OCD.

Symptoms may include:

Motor tics

• eye blinking

• head shaking

• shrugging

• arm jerking

Vocal tics

• coughing

• grunting

• throat clearing

• humming

• squeaking

• whistling

Tourette syndrome

As this is a complex brain disorder, people with Tourette syndrome have both motor and vocal tics. Tourette syndrome is the most severe and least common disorder.

Tics can happen randomly. They may be triggered by stress, anxiety, tiredness, excitement, or even happiness. They often worsen when discussed or focused on.

Tics typically begin with an uncomfortable sensation that builds in your body until you relieve it with the tic. Sometimes you might be able to suppress (or stop) the tic.

This video can help you recognize the symptoms of a tic disorder:

Tics aren't usually harmful and don't cause any damage to the brain. But sometimes, you need to go to the doctor if you notice that it:

• happens often

• causes pain or discomfort

• interferes with your daily life

• causes social problems like bullying or isolation

• it comes with anger, self-harm, or depression

Photo by Verne Ho on Unsplash

Diagnosis and treatment

To get a tic diagnosis, you must be under 18 when symptoms start, and the symptoms shouldn't come from other medical conditions or drugs. Treatment depends on the type and severity of the tic disorder.

Often, tics go away on their own without any treatment. However, severe tics can be treated by:

• therapy

• medication

• deep brain simulations

Kelly is an 14-year-old girl. Sometimes, she makes unwanted sounds when her class sings the national anthem in school. Other students used to mock her. What should she do?

A. Tell her parents to take her to the doctor.

B. Stop participating in the anthem.

C. Confront the bullies.

If you think you or a friend might be experiencing symptoms of these types of tick disorders: