What are tic disorders?
Tic disorder is a general name for a series of neurological disorders that involve tics, which are sudden and repeated twitches, movements, and/or sounds. People who have tics cannot stop their body from doing these things, just like we can’t stop ourselves from coughing or sneezing. For example, a person with a motor tic might keep blinking over and over, or a person with a vocal tic might make a grunting sound involuntarily at a high frequency.
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Popular but no cure
According to 2020 demographic data, about 1.4 million people in the U.S. are affected by tic disorders. Despite the large number of patients, tic disorders have no cures so far. However, eliminating triggers have been shown by experiences to be effective in controlling symptoms.
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Tics among children
Tics are far more common among children and teens than among adults. Most patients start developing symptoms during childhood. While some of these young patients get rid of tic disorders naturally when they enter adulthood, some don’t. The focus of our website is on tic disorders among the children population.
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Comorbidities
About 80% to 90% of people who have tic disorders have other coexisting conditions such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder(ADHD), obsessive compulsive disorder(OCD), and anxiety.
Three types of tic disorders
According to the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5-TR), tic disorders can be classified as three types
Note that above is the criteria in shortened form. They are presented for your information only and should not be used for self-diagnosis. If you are concerned about any of the symptoms listed, you should consult a trained healthcare provider with experience in diagnosing and treating tic disorders
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