Transient tic disorder

• Alternative Names

  Tic - transient tic disorder

• Causes, incidence, and risk factors

  Transient tic disorder is common in children.

  The cause of transient tic disorder can be physical or mental (psychological). It may be a mild form of Tourette syndrome.

• Symptoms

  The child may have facial tics or tics involving movement of the arms, legs, or other areas.

  Tics may involve:

  • Movements that occur again and again and don't have a rhythm
  • An overwhelming urge to make the movement
  • Brief and jerky movements that include the following:
    • Blinking
    • Clenching the fists
    • Curling the toes
    • Flaring the nostrils
    • Grimacing
    • Jerking the arms
    • Kicking
    • Opening the mouth
    • Raising the eyebrows
    • Shrugging the shoulders
    • Sticking out the tongue

  The tics often look like nervous behavior. Tics appear to get worse with stress and do not occur during sleep.

  Sounds may also occur, such as:

  • Clicking
  • Grunting
  • Hissing
  • Moaning
  • Sniffing
  • Snorting
  • Squealing
  • Throat clearing
• Signs and tests

  The health care provider should consider physical causes of transient tic disorder before making a diagnosis.

  In order to be diagnosed with transient tic disorder, the child must have had tics almost every day for at least 4 weeks, but less than a year.

• Treatment

  Health care providers recommend that family members do NOT call attention to the tics at first, because unwanted attention may make the tics worse. If tics are severe enough to cause problems in school or work, behavioral techniques and medications may help.

• Expectations (prognosis)

  Simple childhood tics usually disappear over a period of months.

• Complications

  There are usually no complications. A chronic motor or vocal tic disorder can develop.

• Calling your health care provider

  Talk to your health care provider if you are concerned about a transient tic disorder, especially if it continues or disrupts your child's life. If you are not sure whether the movements are a tic or a seizure, call your health care provider right away.

Review Date: 2/13/2008

Reviewed By: Luc Jasmin, MD, PhD, Departments of Anatomy & Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.