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

If you believe your child has a tic, Pearce says it’s not something to panic over, but it’s a good idea to have their doctor take a look to make sure it is a tic, rule out any other potential issues, and keep an eye on it, because if a tic lasts for more than a year, even if it doesn’t bother your child, they should be assessed by a tic and Tourette Syndrome specialist like herself, a neurologist or a paediatrician to see if they have any other co-existing conditions like ADHD, obsessive compulsive disorder or anxiety that need treatment or support. “The reason why it’s so important to get assessment is that more often than not, it’s not the tics that are the problem, it’s these co-existing conditions,” she explains. Doja agrees. “Tics may be what’s bringing them to medical attention, but it’s important to look for those other associated conditions, because they may be affecting the children’s lives more,” he says.

And if a tic is bothering your child or causing impairment, Pearce says, you should have your child looked at by a specialist, even if the tic has persisted for less than a year, to help them get the support they need. For instance, a tic could be causing physical pain (perhaps their neck twisting has strained their muscles), or is interfering in other ways like causing teasing or their blinking is affecting their ability to read.