Tic Disorders: What Are They, and Are They Treatable?
This text will discuss tic disorders, including the definition of a tic, common symptoms, and treatment options. One effective non-medicated treatment is Comprehensive Behavioral Intervention for Tics (CBIT), which can help reduce the severity of tics by providing tools.
What is a Tic?
A tic is a sudden and repetitive movement, sound, or twitch that a person makes involuntarily. It is not something that can be controlled by the person experiencing it.
There are two different kinds of tics:
Motor Tic - an involuntary muscle movement like blinking over and over again.
Vocal Tic - unintentional sounds like grunting unwillingly.
Each type of tic includes simple and complex movements.
Simple motor tic movements involve one body part or muscle group. Examples of simple motor tics are:
Eye blinks or jerks
Tongue movements such as sticking out the tongue
Squatting and hopping
Shoulder shrugs
Complex motor tics can combine simple motor tics or movements involving more than one muscle group. Complex motor tics are often slower and may appear to be intentional. Examples of complex motor tics include:
Facial grimacing
Touching people or things
Obscene gestures or gyrating movements
Simple vocal tics involve moving air through the mouth or nose. Examples of simple vocal tics include:
Grunting
Barking
Hissing
Sniffing
Snorting
Throat clearing
Complex vocal tics may include words, phrases, and sentences. This may look like someone repeating their own words or inappropriate things.
What is a Tic Disorder?
A tic is a fast, repetitive muscle movement that results in sudden, difficult-to-control body jerks or sounds.
There are three different kinds of tic disorders, each with its criteria to incur a diagnosis.
Have a motor tic(s) and vocal tic(s), although they may not co-occur.
Have had tics for at least a year, with the tics occurring daily, nearly daily, or on and off.
Have tics that begin before 18 years old.
Have symptoms not due to taking drugs, medicine, or other medical conditions.
2. Persistent Motor or Vocal Tic Disorder
Have one or more motor tics or vocal tics, but not both.
Have had tics for at least a year, with the tics occurring daily, nearly every day, or on and off for over a year.
Have tics that begin before 18 years old.
They have symptoms not due to taking drugs, medicine, or other medical conditions.
Have not been diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome.
Have one or more motor tics or vocal tics.
Tics have been present for less than a year.
Have tics that begin before 18 years old.
Have symptoms not due to taking drugs, medicine, or another medical condition.
Have not been diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome or Persistent Motor or Vocal Tic Disorder.
Is There a Treatment for Tics?
Comprehensive Behavior Intervention for Tics (CBIT) is a non-medicated treatment. It is important to note that CBIT is not a cure but a set of tools to reduce the severity of tics. Studies show that more than half of people who receive CBIT will significantly decrease tic severity.
CBIT consists of three components:
Training the patient to be more aware of their tics and the urge to tics.
Train the patient to perform competing behaviors when they feel the urge to tic.
Modifying the day-to-day activities in ways that can reduce tics.
How Effective is CBIT?
Studies show that more than half of people who receive CBIT will significantly decrease tic severity. It is important to note that CBIT is not a cure but a set of tools to reduce the severity of tics. The younger a person receives CBIT, the better because the urge to tick becomes stronger and more habitual the older a person becomes.
Tics and Co-occurring Conditions
Tics often occur with other related conditions such as:
It is also common for children with Tourette Syndrome to struggle with writing, organizing, or paying attention. This can make school challenging and require more individual attention when it comes to learning. Children with Tourette Syndrome, however, generally do not have lower intelligence levels than those with Tourette Syndrome. Many of these concerns can be addressed with behavior interventions and accommodations such as different testing locations, less homework, etc.
In addition to educational concerns, children with Tourette Syndrome may experience difficulties with sensations like feel, taste, and smell, and social interactions.
Ready to Get Started?
New Habits Consulting offers CBIT as well as parent coaching. You can learn more here or contact us to get in touch.