What are tics and what is the difference between tics and Tourette’s Syndrome?
Tourette Syndrome is a neurodevelopmental disorder that typically first appears in childhood or adolescence. Symptoms include chronic involuntary body movements (motor tics), involuntary noises, in some cases involuntary inappropriate words. Similar to Tourette syndrome, but with a few distinctions is Chronic Tic Disorder. Chronic Tic Disorder is characterized by either motor or vocal tics that have persisted for at least one year. Approximately 1 out of every 100 school age child in the US has symptoms of TS or another tic disorder. Most people are diagnosed as children or teenagers.
What is the impact of tics or Tourette’s on daily life?
Many people with Tourette’s or another tic disorder do not experience difficulty in functioning due to their tics. Others do. For those people whose functioning is affected, treatment, along with family and social system support, can be very helpful. Although Tourette syndrome is a neurodevelopmental disorder for which a cure has not yet been discovered, treatment, including behaviour therapy has shown to reduce the frequency and severity of tic disorder symptoms for many people.
Because there are individual internal and external factors that influence the frequency and intensity of tics, research has shown that behavior therapy can contribute to not only increasing quality of life for people with tic disorders but also reduce tic frequency. Behavior therapy deals with both external and internal factors that might influence tics for an individual child.
What factors influence severity and intensity of tics?
For most people with tic disorders, there are situations in which the frequency of tics increases. For example, you may notice your child or adolescent engages in more tics when preparing for a test, or is around certain people. A knowledgeable clinician can help you identify these situations and find ways to reduce the impact that these situations have on your child’s tics. An additional method for reducing the frequency of tics is habit reversal training. Through a methodical, careful assessment and treatment plan, a clinician will work to reduce the frequency of tics with the following steps:
1) Increase awareness of each tic so that the person is aware of when a tic is coming and as it is occurring.
2) Develop an alternative or competing movement, called a competing response, to prevent the tic from occurring.
3) Integrate social support, often from a parent, for practicing the competing responses.
This involves identifying a coach that can reinforce the child for practicing the competing response. For younger children, a reward system can be helpful as well.
How can parents support their child or adolescent dealing with a tic disorder?
Parent support is extremely important for a child or teenager dealing with a tic disorder. That said, it may be difficult to know how to respond to your child when you see them engaging in vocal or motor tics. There are some things that have shown to be helpful in helping your child cope with tic disorders. Often these suggestions are best implemented while working with a therapist to address the frequency and intensity of the tics.
The following tips for responding when your child engages in tics may be useful:
- Try not to react to the tics when they occur. This includes asking about the tics, commenting on the tics, praising the child for not doing tics or criticizing them when they do the tics.
- Although it may be frustrating to see your child engaging in tics, it can be stressful for your child to see or hear that frustration. It’s important for parents to find a way to express this frustration when they are not around their child.
- Take the focus off tics and put it on your child’s other qualities and strengths. By doing this, you are modeling for your child how to cope with the impact of the tics on his life.
- Maintain the same expectations for your child with a tic disorder as you would for any other child in the family. Tourette’s syndrome or chronic tics should never lower your expectations for your child.
- Encourage your child to exercise and be active. Staying active and busy can help manage the frequency and intensity of tics as well as increase a sense of self-confidence for your child.
- Ensure your child gets enough sleep by helping them unwind with a solid bedtime routine and maintaining a consistent sleep schedule. For many children and adults getting more sleep can help manage tics.
- Stress and anxiety often makes tics worse so it’s very important to help your child find ways to relax throughout the day.
Although tic disorders can be impactful, good support and treatment can mitigate this impact while giving your child the opportunity to experience a full, successful life. A great resource for more information is the Tourette Association of America at www.tourette.org
