What Are Tic Disorders?

This informational guide, part of POPSUGAR's Condition Center, lays out the realities of this health concern: what it is, what it can look like, and strategies that medical experts say are proven to help. You should always consult your doctor regarding matters pertaining to your health and before starting any course of medical treatment.

Tic disorders aren't well understood, but they're beginning to gain more recognition, in large part because more people — including celebrities like Billie Eilish — are speaking openly about what it's really like to live with a tic disorder. One of the most common misconceptions about tics, which the CDC defines as "sudden twitches, movements, or sounds that people do repeatedly," is that they are voluntary, attention-seeking behaviors — and this simply isn't true. In reality, people have no control over their tics, whether they are physical or verbal.

About a half million children in the United States have a tic disorder, estimates the Tourette Association of America. Some tics are temporary and pass on their own over time, but others experience tics into their teens and adulthood. New research shows that persistent tic disorders (including Tourette syndrome) may affect about 1.4 million people in the US.

Tics can be motor (physical, such as blinking or shrugging, or more elaborate movements like hopping or bending) or vocal (such as grunting, throat clearing, or full words or phrases), the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke states. "Symptoms of tics include blinking, jerking or banging one's head, clicking fingers, coughing or sniffling, or repeating a sound or phrase," Julian Lagoy, MD, a psychiatrist with Mindpath Health, says. While many people associate the repetition of other people's phrases (echolalia) or using obscenities or vulgar language (coprolalia) with tic disorders, these symptoms are relatively rare.

The type and duration of tics influence the potential diagnosis. The American Psychiatric Association's "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition" (DSM-5) includes three tic disorders.

In addition to these three clinical disorders, it's also possible to develop tic-like behaviors that do not meet the criteria for a diagnosis. In fact, the Tourette Association of America reports that since the COVID-19 pandemic, there's been an increase in sudden onset, tic-like behaviors among young people. Tourettes Association of America reports this is likely due to a mix of increased anxiety, extended social distancing, and increased exposure to tics on social media like TikTok, which can all increase the prevalence of tic-like behaviors in people with and without diagnosable disorders.

"It is unknown what exactly causes tics to develop and occur," Dr. Lagoy says, noting that several different factors may be associated with tic disorders. Underlying conditions, genes, and other environmental factors can all play a role in someone's experience or diagnosis. "However," Dr. Lagoy adds, "the severity and occurrence of tics is increased due to stress and sleep deprivation."

The CDC reports that while children of all racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds have similar rates of diagnosis for TS, boys were much more likely (about three times as likely) to have TS when compared to girls.

Additionally, there are several other conditions associated with the tic disorder spectrum — specifically Tourette syndrome. The CDC reports that 83 percent of children with TS also have at least one other disorder, including anxiety, OCD, ADHD, learning disabilities, autism, depression, and developmental delays.

For older adults and teens, the National Health Service does note that tics and other symptoms "usually improve after several years and sometimes go away completely," though there is currently no cure for Tourette syndrome.

A tic disorder can only be diagnosed by a healthcare provider or specialist — Dr. Logay recommends seeing a neurologist and psychiatrist if you are experiencing tic-like symptoms.

Treatment depends on the individual's need but usually involves one or a combination of the following, per the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke: medication (including dopamine blockers, stimulants, or alpha-adrenergic agonists), behavioral therapy (like Cognitive Behavioral Intervention for Tics, for example), or psychotherapy.

Dr. Logay also reports that "tics can be decreased by relieving stress" and says that in many cases, tics and symptoms are mild enough to require no treatment.