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According to the Tourette Association of America, tics are involuntary, repetitive movement and vocalizations. They are the defining feature of a group of childhood-onset, neurodevelopmental conditions known collectively as Tic disorders and individually as Tourette Syndrome.

Tics are common in childhood. The estimated prevalence of Tourette Syndrome disorder range from 3 to 8 per, 1,000 in school-aged children. Males are more commonly affected than females. Some people may have tic-free periods of weeks to months.

There are three types:

1. Motor tics cause a movement including eye blinking, facial grimacing, jaw movements, and head bobbing
2. Vocal/phonic tics produce a sound including throat clearing, grunting, hooting, and shouting
3. Provisional tic disorders involve a person who experiences involuntary motor and/or verbal tics for one year.

Signs and Symptoms:

Tic Disorders:

• eye blinking
• coughing
• throat clearing
• sniffing
• facial movement
• shoulder shrugging

Vocal Tics:

• barking or yelping
• grunting
• repeating what someone else says
• shouting
• sniffing
• swearing

Co-Occurring Disorders Include:

• Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
• Obsessive -Compulsive Disorder
• Learning difficulties
• Behavior problems
• Anxiety
• Mood problems
• Sleeping issues
• Social skills and deficits

Risk Factors

• Temperamental- it is worsened by anxiety, excitement and exhaustion.
• Environmental- observing a gesture or sound in another person my result in an individual with a tic disorder making a similar sound.
• Genetic- genetics and environmental factor influences tic symptoms.