Does Your Child Have a Tic?
We know that raising kids can be full of surprises, and sometimes those surprises come in the form of unexpected twitches, sounds, or movements. If you’ve noticed your child seems to be doing some things repetitively, like blinking a lot, clearing their throat, or maybe even making some involuntary sounds, you’re in the right place.
Let’s explore the world of tics in childhood together, with a calming presence and a whole bunch of helpful information.
What Are Tics in Childhood?
Tics in childhood are little seemingly involuntary movements. It is almost like little hiccups in the body’s movement or sound system. They’re sudden, repetitive movements or sounds that your child doesn’t have full control over. Think of things like eye blinking, head shaking, throat clearing, or even grunting. While they might seem a bit strange at first, they’re actually more common than you might think!
Understanding the Different Types of Tics
There are two main types of tics:
- Motor tics: These are movements of the body, like eye blinking, head jerking, or shoulder shrugging.
- Vocal tics: These involve sounds, like throat clearing, coughing, or making clicking noises.
Why Do Tics Happen?
Tics often have a neurological basis, meaning they’re related to how the brain is wired.
Sometimes, they’re linked to other things like this list.
- Brain chemistry: Differences in brain chemicals can play a role in the development of tics.
- Environmental influences: Stress, anxiety, and lack of sleep can sometimes make tics more noticeable.
- Giftedness: Believe it or not, tics are actually more common in gifted children! It might be because their brains are wired for intensity and heightened sensitivity.
- Co-occurring conditions: Tics can sometimes hang out with other things like ADHD, OCD, anxiety, or mood disorders.
Gifted kids with tics
Is your gifted child doing a tic? The good news is that these tics are not unusual. As a psychologist, I see them a lot. In my experience, gifted kids tend to display tics due to the intensity.
They just tend to have an overly active imagination, sensory system, and general response to the environment. I have heard that their nervous system is a bit like an exposed wire with all of the protective coating rubbed off. Something comes into their system and they just feel it very intensely.
I remember a gifted 5th grader telling me about tics. He had a head nod tic that would come and go. He explained, “You can stop the tic, you can. It’s just like you get the urge to do the tic and it’s so strong. It’s like scratching an itch. Everything in you just wants to do the tic.” For that child, I will say that the tic just eventually disappeared on it’s own. No treatment was needed.
These are called ‘transient tics’ meaning that they come and go. If your child’s tics have not lasted more than a couple or a few months, it is likely not cause for concern.
Significant Tics That May Indicate a Tic Disorder
What about when tics are significant? If your child has a tic that is getting in the way of daily life or has lasted for 5 or 6 months, this is an issue worth addressing. Here’s some good news.
- Tics are voluntary. Yes! I said it. Voluntary. The kid may see them as involuntary and they are hard to resist but tics are voluntary.
- There is a long standing effective treatment for tics called habit reversal. The technique involves learning to face anxiety without doing the tic.
For example, the child would feel the anxiety come up as they think about something that normally stresses them out. Instead of doing the tic, they would use active visualization or deep breathing to calm down. If they avoid doing the tic, the parent or provider would provide praise or even a reward.
Many professionals use biofeedback to measure the child’s ability to get calm in the face of the stressors. As you may have guessed, most parents need a professional to guide these techniques.
However, if you are very motivated to learn how to do this or if there are simply no therapists available in your area, habit reversal is a technique that can be learned. The most important aspect of this is rewarding your child for using a coping strategy as the urge to tic comes up. Often, they can learn to use their coping strategy instead of doing the tic.
Pitfalls to Avoid
- Overreacting: Drawing too much attention to the tics can make your child feel self-conscious and might even make the tics worse.
- Punishing or scolding: Remember, your child can’t help it! Punishing them for tics is like punishing them for having the hiccups.
- Ignoring underlying issues: If tics are frequent or causing significant distress, it’s important to explore potential underlying causes or co-occurring conditions.
Pearls of Wisdom for Parents
- Stay calm and reassuring: Let your child know that it’s okay and that you’re there for them.
- Educate yourself: The more you understand about tics, the better equipped you’ll be to support your child.
- Reduce stress: Help your child manage stress and anxiety through relaxation techniques, mindfulness, or other calming activities.
- Consider therapy: If tics are causing significant distress or interfering with daily life, therapies like habit reversal training can be very helpful.
- Celebrate their strengths: Focus on your child’s amazing qualities and talents, and help them build self-confidence and resilience.
A Final Word on Tics in Childhood
Remember, parents, you are your child’s rock.
With your love, understanding, and a sprinkle of those pearls of wisdom, you can help your child navigate the world of tics with confidence and grace.
References on tics in childhood
Tourette Association of America
42-40 Bell Boulevard, Suite 507, Bayside NY 11361
Email: ts@tsa-usa.org
Eide & Eide (2006). The mislabeled child: Looking beyond behavior to find the true sources—and solutions—for children’s learning challenges. Hyperion, NY
