Tics in Children: What They Are and When to Worry

What a tic is

A tic is a sudden, brief, repetitive movement or sound a child makes that isn't fully under their control. Motor tics include eye-blinking, facial grimacing, shoulder-shrugging, or head-jerking; vocal tics include throat-clearing, sniffing, grunting, or coughing. Tics often shift over time, one fades and another appears, and they typically get more noticeable when a child is tired, excited, anxious, or even when bored.

Many children have a tic at some point, especially between about ages 5 and 10. A tic that has lasted only weeks to a few months is often a transient (temporary) tic and frequently resolves on its own; many childhood tics improve with age.2Ref 2U.S. National Library of Medicine, MedlinePlus (2024).Facial tics: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia.MedlinePlus notes that tics may affect as many as one quarter of all children at some time, and simple childhood tics should go away on their own over a period of months.

Why throat-clearing and blinking get mistaken for other things

Blinking can look like eye irritation, allergies, or a vision problem, and throat-clearing or sniffing can look like a lingering cold, post-nasal drip, or asthma. That's exactly why a check-up is useful, a pediatrician can sort a tic from a medical cause. A helpful clue: tics tend to wax and wane, can be briefly suppressed (often followed by a 'rebound'), and may be preceded by an uncomfortable urge the child is trying to relieve, patterns that allergies and infections don't share.

How families can respond

The most helpful approach is usually low-key. Drawing repeated attention to a tic, or asking a child to 'just stop,' tends to increase stress and can make tics more frequent. Instead:

• Stay calm and matter-of-fact, and ask teachers and siblings to do the same
• Protect sleep and ease pressure during busy or stressful stretches, since fatigue and stress amplify tics
• Keep a simple log of which tics appear and when, useful for a clinician
• Reassure your child that it's not their fault and they're not in trouble

When to see a pediatrician

It's reasonable to mention new tics at a regular visit. Seek an evaluation sooner if tics are frequent enough to interfere with school, friendships, or sleep; if they cause pain (for example, a forceful neck or shoulder tic); if your child seems very distressed by them; if there are both motor and vocal tics that have lasted close to a year; or if you notice alongside the tics repetitive rituals, intense worries, or attention difficulties, since tics can co-occur with OCD and ADHD. A pediatrician can examine your child, rule out medical mimics like allergies or eye irritation, and refer to a specialist if needed. Reassuringly, OCD and related conditions in children are highly treatable when identified. 1Ref 1National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) (2024).Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD).OCD, which can co-occur with tics, is treatable with psychotherapy, medication, or both.