Education Hub ~ Tics
Tics and Tourette Syndrome
What is a Tic?
A tic is a sudden, rapid, repeating movement or sound that a person cannot control.
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Motor Tics (Movement)
Examples:
Blinking or eye rolling
Facial movements or grimacing
Shoulder shrugging
Arm, leg, or head jerking
Touching or tapping objects
Vocal Tics (Sounds or Words)
Examples:
Throat clearing / coughing
Sniffing or clicking noises
Whistling
Words, phrases, or sounds (including animal sounds)
Mental (Cognitive) Tics
Some people experience thoughts that repeat on a loop.
These are just as real and can be just as challenging.
Premonitory Urges
Many describe a rising internal sensation before the tic happens.
Some find the urge more uncomfortable than the tic itself.
Why Tourette’s Is Often Misunderstood
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For many years, media has focused mainly on coprolalia (swearing tics).
However, only around 10–15% of people with Tourette Syndrome experience this.
Most people with TS have:
Subtle tics
Internal sensations others cannot see
Fluctuations in symptoms depending on stress, tiredness, or environment
Because many tics can be small or easily masked, Tourette’s can often be invisible.
Even when tics are not obvious, individuals may still experience:
Muscle pain or fatigue
Throat soreness
Headaches
Embarrassment or anxiety
Low self-confidence or shame
This is why education matters — so that understanding can replace misunderstanding.
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Here’s the truth:
No one has the right to question your diagnosis, your child’s diagnosis, or the way Tourette’s presents for you.
Tourette Syndrome exists on a spectrum, and no two people experience tics the same way.
Diagnosing Tourette Syndrome
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Tourette Syndrome (TS) is a neurological condition that affects how the brain controls movement and sounds. For many people, Tourette’s is misunderstood because of how it has been portrayed in television, films, and social media. This can lead to confusion, assumptions, and unfortunately, people feeling that they need to prove their diagnosis.
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How Tourette’s Is Diagnosed
A diagnosis is based on:
Having both motor and vocal tics
Present for more than 1 year
Starting in childhood
Tourette Syndrome is usually diagnosed by:
A Paediatrician
Neurologist
Child & Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS)
Specialist in tic disorders
There is no scan or blood test for TS — diagnosis is clinical and based on symptoms.
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Why Getting the Right Diagnosis Matters
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Not all tics are Tourette’s. Tics can also appear due to:
- Anxiety and emotional stress
- Autism or ADHD
- Functional Neurological Disorder (FND)
- PANDAS/PANS (immune-related onset)
- Trauma
- Certain medications
Because these causes require different support, the correct diagnosis helps ensure:
- The right treatment
- The right strategies
- And reduced symptoms, rather than increased ones
Sometimes, a person may have both Tourette’s and another condition that affects tics, so it’s not about labels, but about getting the full picture.
Other Tic Disorders
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Tourette Syndrome
Motor and vocal tics for more than 1 year.
Chronic (Persistent) Tic Disorder - Motor or vocal tics (only one type), lasting longer than 1 year.
Provisional (Transient) Tic Disorder
Tics lasting less than 1 year, usually in childhood.