Every person experiences tics differently. They may suffer from either uncontrolled movements or noises.
What Is Transient Tic Disorder?
Transient tic disorder, now known as provisional tic disorder, is a condition involving physical and verbal tics. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, 5th Edition (DSM-5) renamed this disorder in 2013. A tic is an abrupt, uncontrollable movement or sound that deviates from a person's normal gestures. For example, a person with tics may blink rapidly and repeatedly, even if nothing is irritating their eyes.
Tics are common in children and may last for less than one year. A child with transient tic disorder has noticeable physical or vocal tics. The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry states that tics affect up to 10 percent of children during their early school years.
The most notable tic disorder is Tourette syndrome, in which both physical and verbal tics occur in the same individual, often at the same time. Transient tic disorder also involves both types of tics, but they often occur individually.
What Are The Symptoms?
Tic disorders include Tourette syndrome, chronic motor or vocal tic disorder, and transient tic disorder. Your doctor may diagnose your tic disorder as nonspecific if your symptoms don't fall exactly into one of those categories.
Tics are often confused with nervous behavior. They intensify during periods of stress and don't happen during sleep. Tics occur repeatedly, but they don't usually have a rhythm.
Physical symptoms may be:
- Uncontrollably raise their eyebrows
- Shrug their shoulders
- Flare their nostrils
- Clench their fists
- Eye blinking
- Head jerking
- Shoulder shrugging
- Eye darting
- Nose twitching
- Mouth movements
- Touching or smelling objects
- Repeating observed movements
- Stepping in a certain pattern
- Obscene gesturing
- Bending or twisting
- Hopping
Vocal symptoms may include:
- Clearing your throat
- Click your tongue
- Grunt
- Moan
- Coughing
- Repeating one's own words or phrases
- Repeating other's words or phrases
- Using vulgar, obscene or swear words
- Barking
In addition, tics can:
- Vary in type, frequency, and severity
- Worsen if you're ill, stressed, anxious, tired, or excited
- Change over time
- Worsen in early teenage years and improve during the transition into adulthood
What Are The Symptoms?
There is no known cause of transient tic disorder. Like Tourette syndrome and other tic disorders, a combination of factors influences it.
Some research indicates that tic disorders may be inherited. A genetic mutation can cause Tourette syndrome in rare cases.
Abnormalities in the brain may also be responsible for tic disorders. Such abnormalities are the cause of other mental conditions, such as depression and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
Some research suggests that transient tic disorder could be linked to neurotransmitters. Neurotransmitters are the chemicals in the brain that transmit nerve signals to your cells. However, no studies offer complete proof of the role neurotransmitters play. Medications to treat transient tic disorder alter neurotransmitter levels.
What Are The Risk Factors?
Risk factors for Tourette syndrome include:
- Family History. Having Having a family history of Tourette/Provisional syndrome or other tic disorders might increase the risk of developing Tourette/Provisional syndrome.
- Sex. Males are about three to four times more likely than females to develop Tourette/Provisional syndrome.
What Are The Complications?
People with Tourette/Provisional Tic syndrome often lead healthy, active lives. However, Tourette/Provisional Tic syndrome frequently involves behavioral and social challenges that can harm your self-image.
Conditions often associated with Tourette/Provisional Tic syndrome include:
- Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
- Obsessive-compulsive Disorder (OCD)
- Autism spectrum disorder
- Learning disabilities
- Sleep Disorders
- Depression
- Anxiety Disorders
- Pain related to tics, especially headaches
- Anger-management problems
When Do You See A Doctor?
Not all tics indicate Tourette syndrome. Many children develop tics that go away on their own after a few weeks or months. But whenever a child shows unusual behavior, it's important to identify the cause and rule out serious health problems.
