When To Worry About Your Kid's Facial And Body Tics

Stress and anxiety can exacerbate tics in someone with a pre-existing tic disorder, but don’t cause them, says Doja. This may be the reason there has been an increase in kids and teens who’ve found that their tics have come back or increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, which is something both Doja and Pearce have seen with their patients. It’s not the virus itself that’s thought to be causing this, it’s the stress of lockdowns and other restrictions. Doja notes that there are studies from the UK, Italy and Sweden that have looked at an increase in tics during the pandemic that say this experience has probably exacerbated tics in those who have them.

The rise in tics during the pandemic could also be attributed to social media. Researchers saw a wave of functional tic-like behaviours (FTLB)—often sudden, complex tics in teens who were consuming lots of tic-related videos during high-stress periods. Social media doesn’t cause Tourette, but in vulnerable youth, modelling and stress can trigger functional symptoms. The good news: with the right behavioural strategies and support, most kids improve.