Childhood tics occur quite frequently and also appear in adolescence. They cause a great disturbance in the life of the child, interfering in their daily tasks even in their academic performance.
Types of Tics
Vocal or verbal tics: They consist of repeating certain sounds or words compulsively.
Motor tics: Repetitive and involuntary movement of certain parts of the body normally the head, arms, legs.
Among the most common causes are:
Periods of stress (exams)
Changes in the child's life
Birth of a brother
Afraid
Neurological problems affecting the basal ganglia
Some stimulant medications
Genetic diseases like Huntington's chorea
Viral infections such as encephalitis.
Tourette syndrome
It is important to distinguish nervous tics from Tourette Syndrome.
The Tourette syndrome It has more associated symptoms apart from vocal and motor tics. Obsessive compulsive behavior, anxiety, depression, attention deficit and / or hyperactivity can occur. It has a genetic origin, it is diagnosed at age 7 and it occurs more in boys than in girls. To meet the diagnostic criteria, it is necessary for the child to have had tics for 1 year and not have been tic-free for more than three months.
The most recommended treatment is cognitive behavioral therapy combined with drug therapy (neuroleptics are often prescribed).
Among the most used techniques to treat tics are:
Progressive muscle relaxation: Technique developed by Jacobson that consists of tensing and relaxing different muscle groups.
Self-records: They are essential because they will provide us with a lot of data such as: Situation that triggered the tic, duration, what happened next, etc..
Reversal of habit: It consists of carrying out a behavior incompatible with tic. For example, if the child bites his nails, make him put his hands in his pockets, or if he moves his head, hold his head with one hand..
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