Maybe your child keeps blinking hard. Or clearing their throat. Or making a face, sound, or movement over and over that seems unusual.
At first, it may be easy to brush off. Maybe it’s allergies. Maybe they’re anxious. Maybe it’s just something they like to do. Sometimes, those explanations might be true. But sometimes, what you might be noticing is a tic.
Since May 15 to June 15 is Tourette Syndrome Awareness Month, it is a good time to talk about what tics can look like, why they are often missed, and what parents should know.
What can tics look and sound like?
Tics are movements or sounds that happen repeatedly and can be hard to stop. Tics generally fall into two main groups: motor and vocal. Some are one movement or sound by itself; others are a short pattern of movements or sounds.
Some common tics include:
- Eye blinking
- Pursing the lips
- Shoulder shrugging
- Sniffing
- Clearing the throat
- Squeaking or humming
Some kids can suppress tics for short periods of time. But it doesn’t mean they have full control over them. Think about trying to hold your eyes open and keep from blinking. You can do it for a little while, but it’s pretty uncomfortable. And when you stop trying, you’ll end up blinking a lot.
Although many people associate Tourette syndrome with swearing, the vast majority of people with Tourette syndrome don’t have that symptom.
Tics can be easy to miss
Tics notoriously come and go. They might be there at the start of the school year, then disappear for a while. They can change over time, meaning one might disappear, and things might seem better for a while, only for a new tic or two to pop up later. They might happen most in one or two settings, and only rarely in others.
For a lot of kids with tics, the tics can be more noticeable when they are tired, excited, stressed, anxious, or bored. If they unconsciously suppress them, tics might flare up as soon as they get home (or on the drive home!). On the other hand, tics might be less noticeable when your child is focused on something they like and enjoy.
Because tics might not show up during a pediatrician visit, at school, or the exact moment you want to show what’s happening with your child, it can be helpful to take short videos or keep a written log so other people can understand what is happening.
Tourette syndrome is not the only tic disorder
Many people have heard of Tourette syndrome, but Tourette syndrome is only one type of tic disorder. If your child’s tics have been around for less than a year, you might hear a healthcare provider call it a “provisional” tic disorder. That word can be confusing, but it mostly just means more time is needed to know which tic diagnosis fits best. And because tics naturally come and go, a few quiet weeks do not necessarily mean the “1 year” clock starts over.
If the tics have already been coming and going for a year or more, then the diagnosis will depend on the types of tics your child has had. If they have only had motor tics, then you might hear “chronic motor tic disorder.” For a diagnosis of Tourette syndrome, your child has to have had both motor and vocal tics.
While there are a few different tic diagnoses, the treatment recommendations usually depend more on how much the tics are affecting your child than on the specific label. The label mainly helps healthcare providers communicate clearly about the pattern of symptoms.
What to share with your child’s healthcare provider
Parents do not need to panic about tics. But families do deserve accurate information. Many tics are mild and may not require treatment. But it is still reasonable to bring them up with your child’s healthcare provider, especially if the movements or sounds are new, persistent, painful, embarrassing, interfering with school or friendships, or causing distress.
Before the visit, it can help to write down:
- When the movement or sound started
- What it looks or sounds like
- Whether it changes over time
- Whether it seems worse with stress, fatigue, excitement, or illness
- Whether your child can briefly suppress it
Tics can also show up alongside other issues, like ADHD, anxiety, OCD-like behaviors, or learning disabilities. Bringing up concerns about any of these areas during the same visit can help your healthcare provider decide what to monitor, what to treat, and whether another referral is needed.
What helps in the meantime
If a child has possible tics, ignore the tic as much as you can. Do not punish it, correct it, comment on it, or ask the child to stop. Even well-meaning attention—like giving a neck massage for a neck tic—can accidentally reinforce the tic.
At school, tics can be mistaken for disruption or disrespect, especially when they involve sounds, repeated movements, or facial expressions. It might seem like a child is “choosing” to make the sound or movement, especially if it happens at an inconvenient time. But tics are not the same as misbehavior, defiance, or attention-seeking. It can help when teachers understand what is happening and respond calmly. Organizations like Tourette Association of America have great school-friendly resources to help them learn more.
Tics are more common than many people realize, and they are often misunderstood. A little awareness can go a long way in helping children feel less blamed, less embarrassed, and better understood by the adults around them.
This article is for general education and is not a substitute for medical or mental health advice for a specific child.
About our guest writer:
Dr. Lisa Moran is a licensed psychologist and pediatric neuropsychologist who now calls Albuquerque home. Through Sunrise Pediatric Neuropsychology, she works with children, teens, and families affected by brain-related and brain-impacting conditions, including tic disorders and Tourette syndrome. She enjoys helping parents make sense of confusing symptoms so they can feel more informed, less blamed, and better prepared to support their child.
