According to the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, tics refer to repetitive movements that are sudden and uncontrollable. Some tics are temporary, while others are chronic and last throughout your life. Your family physician may refer you to a psychiatrist so that you can be properly evaluated and treated. Various types of neurological tic disorders exist.
Tourette Syndrome
Tourette syndrome is a disorder that affects 1 to 2 percent of children and adults in the United States, according to the Mayo Clinic. Symptoms of Tourette syndrome include facial tics, such as eye blinking, shoulder shrugging, sticking out your tongue and rapidly moving your head. These are referred to as simple tics. Other simple tics include frequent hiccuping, yelling, throat clearing and barking. Complex tics include touching other people, making inappropriate gestures and using curse words. The Mayo Clinic says that these tics can become worse when you are under high amounts of stress and anxiety.
According to the Mayo Clinic, treatment of Tourette syndrome includes taking anti-psychotic, antidepressant or stimulant medication to help manage your tics. Psychotherapy or counseling can also help you cope with Tourette syndrome. Deep brain stimulation is another option. It is a surgical procedure in which a device is implanted into your brain to help control your tics via electrical stimulation.
Transient Tic Disorder
MedlinePlus says that transient tic disorder is a temporary childhood disorder in which a child also develops symptoms similar to Tourette syndrome. For example, a child may develop facial, leg or arm twitching and throat clearing. Other manifestations of transient tic disorder include clenching fists, opening of the mouth, shrugging of the shoulders and making squealing, sniffing, grunting, clicking or hissing sounds.
MedlinePlus says that initial treatment involves telling family members and friends to ignore the tics. Sometimes, paying close attention to these tics can actually make them worse. Like Tourette syndrome, your doctor may opt to use medication or behavioral techniques to reduce transient tic disorder symptoms.
Chronic Motor Tic Disorder
Chronic motor tic disorder involves involuntary movements or vocal sounds, but not both. MedlinePlus says that chronic motor tic disorder is more common than Tourette syndrome and involves such symptoms as facial grimacing, eye blinking and rapid movements of your arms and legs. Typically, chronic motor tic disorder is exacerbated with fatigue, stress, heat and excitement.
Medications, such as pimozide and risperidone, are used to treat these tics. Like in Tourette syndrome, deep brain stimulation may prove beneficial in controlling the tics as well.
