Did you know that one in five children will experience tics at some point in their lives? Despite being relatively common, tics are often misunderstood, leaving many families unsure about how best to support their child. To shed light on this topic, we spoke with Dr Chloe Taylor, a Clinical Psychologist at CAYP. With over a decade of NHS experience, Dr Taylor specialises in children’s mental health, including cognitive assessments, therapeutic support, and tailored interventions for neurodivergent young people. Here, she shares practical insights into identifying, understanding, and managing tics in children and young people, as well as a range of tips and resources.
What Are Tics?
Tics are involuntary movements or sounds that occur repeatedly. “They are fast, repetitive, and beyond the young person’s control,” explains Dr Taylor. “Tics can affect any part of the body and may present as simple movements or more complex patterns of behaviours or sounds. Tics are a neurological condition, meaning it’s the way your brain develops. Tics have a genetic component to them too, which means they often run in families (but not always!)”
Dr Taylor highlights their prevalence: “Around 20% of children experience tics at some point. For many, they resolve within a year, but persistent tics may meet the criteria for a tic disorder.”
When Do Tics Typically Appear?
Dr Taylor further explained how current research has stated that Tics often first appear around the age of six, though they can emerge earlier or later. Tics ‘wax and wane’ meaning they naturally fluctuate, with periods that are trickier, and periods that are less intense. Young people and families often see a peak in early adolescence, and this can be impacted by hormonal changes, brain development, and environmental factors. However, many young people outgrow their tics as they transition into adulthood.
Creating a Supportive Environment
Families and schools play a crucial role in helping children manage tics. “Tics are suggestible, so focusing on them often makes them worse,” explains Dr Taylor. “Ignoring tics where possible, avoiding asking children to stop, and addressing peer comments promptly can help a young person feel more at ease.”
Heightened emotions (such as excitement or frustration), stress, tiredness, and routine changes, amongst other factors can exacerbate tics, so a stable environment is key. “While children may suppress tics temporarily, this is exhausting. They should feel free to tic without judgement,” adds Dr Taylor. Overall, Dr Taylor explained that the more attention we pay to a young person’s tic, the more intense they may become, therefore it is best to ignore the tics, but ensure you do not ignore the young person.
Practical Strategies for Support
- Create tic-friendly spaces where children feel comfortable participating in activities – it is very important that the child knows that their tics do not have to stop them from participating in activities they enjoy.
- Tics can be tiring, and young people may need adjustments made to their workload, additionally, they may benefit from have access to breaks during lessons. For some children with tics, prioritising work earlier in the day, when concentration is better, maybe a helpful tool in alleviating the demand on the child.
- Encourage activities like art, music, or sports, which some children find help reduce tics.
- Education is also essential. “Families, friends, and schools must educate themselves about tics to reduce stigma. Tourettes Action is a fantastic resource,” advises Dr Taylor. https://www.tourettes-action.org.uk
Effective Treatments for Tics
Although there’s no cure for tics, several interventions can reduce their impact. Dr Taylor advises families to seek specialist support when tics cause distress, prevent a child from enjoying activities, or lead to pain or discomfort daily.
Behavioural therapies such as Comprehensive Behavioural Intervention for Tics (CBIT), Habit Reversal Therapy (HRT), and Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) empower young people to manage their tics. Dr Taylor explains, “These therapies focus on identifying and addressing triggers to help children gain more control of their trickier tics.” These therapies can be explored with a therapist trained in CBIT, HRT, or ERP, and the most suitable decided collaboratively with parents and young person.
In some cases, medication prescribed by a psychiatrist can help reduce the intensity of tics and associated difficulties.
Understanding Tourette Syndrome & Co-occurring conditions
Tourette Syndrome involves both motor and vocal tics lasting for more than a year. It is important to know that the condition is a spectrum, ranging from mild to severe. Often, tics commonly occur alongside conditions like ADHD, OCD, anxiety, anger or low mood.
Due to the high co-occurrence with other conditions, it is important to understand what is having the greatest impact on a young person’s daily life and work to support the young person in this area. A comprehensive assessment with a Clinical Psychologist can help to understand what your young person needs, and how to best support them with their experiences. “By identifying the most pressing issues, we can tailor support to the young person’s needs,” says Dr Taylor. At CAYP Psychology, we offer a range of assessments to identify what is impacting the child and how they can best be supported.
When Should I Seek an Assessment for my Child and What Will That Involve?
A family should seek further support from a Clinical Psychologist if they notice their young person struggles to engage in activities they enjoy because of their tics or Tourette Syndrome, if they are experiencing increasing periods of sadness or worry, or if they are in pain and discomfort. Support will be tailored to your young person following a comprehensive assessment and should consider all areas of a young person’s life including school, home, friendships, leisure activities and hobbies, and family relationships. Support tailored specifically for Tourette Syndrome is outlined above and usually include the family in this treatment, though this can depend on a young person’s age and developmental stage.
Sometimes a Clinical Psychologist may suggest a different treatment plan, this is because whilst tics may be the presenting issue, we often find working on worry, low mood, peer relationships, and schooling difficulties first, can have the secondary impact of alleviating the emotions that are causing tics to escalate.
Empowering Young People
Building confidence and resilience is key for children with tics or Tourette Syndrome. “Having the language to explain their experiences can be empowering,” Dr Taylor notes. Resources like books, videos, and peer connections can help children better understand and communicate their condition.
Recommended resources include:
- Can I Tell You About Tourette Syndrome? by Mal Leicester
- Tic Talk: Living with Tourette Syndrome by Dylan Peters
- Why Do You Do That? by Uttom Chowdhury and Mary Robertson
- Nix Your Tics! by Dylan McKinley
- The Tourette’s Survival Kit by Tara Murphy and Damon Millar
Families should respect a young person’s decision about disclosing their condition. “Some children may want to share their story, while others may prefer privacy. Both choices are valid,” says Dr Taylor.
Dr Chloe Taylor and the team at CAYP are committed to supporting young people with a wide variety of neurodevelopmental and mental health conditions, such as tics and Tourette Syndrome. With the right understanding, interventions, and environment, children with tics can thrive. As Dr Taylor reminds us, “Tics bring with them an incredible brain. Young people with tics are often funny, creative, compassionate, and sociable. Let’s focus on their strengths and help them achieve their full potential.” Want to learn how Dr Taylor and the CAYP team can support your child? Do not hesitate to contact us to hear more about how we can support your child.
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