Your child starts blinking hard, sniffing, clearing their throat or shrugging a shoulder, again and again. It’s natural to worry. The good news is that tics are common in children, they often settle on their own, and there’s a lot parents can do to help.
What are tics?
Tics are sudden, repeated movements or sounds that a child doesn’t fully control.
- Motor tics are movements, such as blinking, grimacing, head jerking or shoulder shrugging.
- Vocal tics are sounds, such as sniffing, throat clearing, coughing, humming or repeating words.
Many children feel an uncomfortable urge just before a tic, a bit like the feeling before a sneeze. Doing the tic brings brief relief.
How common are tics?
Very common. According to the Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne, about 1 in 8 school-aged children have tics for a short time. About 1 in 100 have tics that last longer than a year. Tics usually begin in the early primary school years, are often strongest around 10 to 12, and frequently ease in the teenage years.
Tourette syndrome is diagnosed when a child has had several motor tics and at least one vocal tic for more than a year. Despite how it’s portrayed on TV, swearing tics are uncommon.
What makes tics worse?
Tics come and go, and change over time. They’re often stronger when a child is:
- stressed, anxious or excited (school start, birthdays, holidays)
- tired
- being watched or asked about their tics.
They’re often weaker when a child is absorbed in something, such as sport, music or a favourite game.
What parents can do
- Don’t comment on the tics. Asking your child to stop, or pointing tics out, usually makes them stronger. Children can sometimes hold a tic back for a short time, but it’s tiring and the urge builds.
- Never punish tics. They’re not deliberate or naughty.
- Keep routines steady, especially sleep.
- Notice stress. Help your child find calming activities, and plan ahead for busy times.
- Talk to the school. Agree on a calm, consistent response with the teacher, and a way for your child to take a short break if they need to.
- Focus on your child, not the tic. Build confidence through their strengths and interests.
- Answer questions simply. If siblings or friends ask, a short explanation helps: “It’s a tic. Their body does it without meaning to, and it’s not catching.”
When to get help
Most children with tics don’t need treatment. It’s worth seeing your GP or paediatrician if:
- tics are painful, frequent or disruptive
- your child is being teased, or avoiding school or activities
- tics last longer than a few months
- you notice other concerns, such as worry, OCD-like behaviours or trouble concentrating, which often occur alongside tics.
Your GP or paediatrician can check for other causes and talk about all the options.
Therapy for tics
The main psychological treatment is CBIT (Comprehensive Behavioural Intervention for Tics), which includes habit reversal. A psychologist helps your child:
- notice the urge that comes before a tic
- learn a “competing response”, a small, gentle movement that makes the tic hard to do, until the urge passes
- find out what makes their tics worse, and change those situations where possible
- learn ways to relax and manage stress.
CBIT works best for children who are motivated to practise, usually from around 8 or 9 years of age. Parents learn how to support practice at home without focusing on the tics.
Help for tics at MindBox Psychology
Our clinical psychologists in St Leonards help children and teenagers with tics and Tourette’s and the worries that often come with them, such as anxiety. Sessions are face-to-face or through online counselling anywhere in Australia. You don’t need a referral to book. Medicare rebates may be available with a referral and Mental Health Treatment Plan from your GP or paediatrician. Private health funds and self-managed NDIS may also cover some costs.
