Types of Tic Dissorders
Tourettes Syndrome – For a diagnosis of TS there must be at least two motor tics, and at least one vocal tic, present for at least 12 months, with tics present under the age of 18
Transient Tic Disorder – Tics can be both motor and vocal and are only present for a short period of time, less than twelve months.
Chronic Tic Disorder – Characterised by the presence of one or more long-lasting tics, either vocal or motor but not both.
Tic Disorder (not specified) – Tics are present but do not meet the criteria for a specific tic disorder, they could be brought on by illness or medication.
Co-Morbid Conditions – People with Tourettes Syndrome often present with co-occurring conditions such as, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Attention Deficit (hyperactivity) Disorder, Oppositional Defiance Disorder, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Sensory Processing Disorder, learning disabilities, anxiety, depression, sleep disorders, social skills deficit, rage attacks, migraines, panic attacks, eye tracking problems.
Common Types of Tics
Simple Tics
Tics involving only a few muscles or sounds that are not yet words.
Simple Motor Tics
- Blinking
- Grimacing
- Rolling eyes
- Squinting
- Smacking
- Licking lips
- Sucking thumb/finger
- Flipping hair out of eyes
- Head turning
- Arm Movements
- Chin to chest
- Tensing muscles
- Drumming fingers
- Flapping arms
- Kicking
- Tapping toes
- Cracking fingers/ankles etc
- Grinding teeth
- Clenching jaw
Simple Vocal Tics
- Throat clearing
- Grunting
- Spitting
- Caughing
- Humming
- Snorting
- Sniffing
- Yelling
- Squeaking
- Exaggerated breath sounds
- Whistling
- Belching
- Popping noises
- Clicking tongue
- Droning-continued tone
Complex Tics
Tics involving multiple grups of muscles and/or complete words or sentances
Complex Motor Tics
- Pinching & Poking
- Pulling or fiddling with clothes
- Jumping
- Hopping
- Kissing others
- Freezing motion
- Multiple tics in motion
- Thrusting arms, legs, groin etc
- Tearing paper into little pieces
- Throwing objects
- Spinning on the spot
- Rude gestures
- Bladder or bowel control problems
Complex Vocal Tics
- Repeating words or phrases
- Repeating sounds
- Repeating part word phrases
- Animal sounds
- Stuttering
- Change of voice
- Muttering inaudibly
- Talking as multiple different charactrs
- Calling out random words
- Imitating noises
- Singing
- Mumbling
- Growling
- Gagging
- Changing accents
Self Harming Tics
- Picking at scabs or cuts
- Hitting oneself
- Throwing oneself on floor
- Pulling out hair, nails etc
- Punching objects
Mental/Thought Tics
Intrusive words/Thoughts
- Thoughts
- Ideas or images (pleasant or scary)
- Fears or phobias
- Thoughts constantly going to one topic (one track mind)
- Negative thinking
- Thoughts of morbid, violent or sexual images -- may be expressed verbaly, written or depicted in artwork or doodles
