Tics - Complications of tics

Although many tics improve over time, they can cause a number of problems.

Some of these are outlined below.

Social problems

Tics can be associated with social problems, such as difficulty making friends and other people not understanding your condition. This can have a significant impact on your quality of life.

If your child has a tic, it may be helpful to develop ways for them to explain their tics to other children who ask about them. This may help your child to deal with their tics and reduce any stress and anxiety that they're feeling.

In some cases, someone with a tic may be bullied. See advice about bullying for help if you're being bullied.

Problems at school or work

Tics can also affect your performance at school or at work. A small UK-based study found that half of the young people questioned said their tics had a significant impact on their performance at school. Some children with tics also have other, specific learning needs.

Tics can emerge as a problem at a time when your child is studying for exams at school and is under extra pressure. This type of stressful situation can make your child’s tics worse.

If your child is finding work difficult because of their tic, you should talk to their teacher about possible ways of dealing with it. For example, you could speak to your child’s teacher about the possibility of your child being allowed to leave the classroom if their tics are particularly bad or if they have been suppressing their tics and need a break to release them to help them concentrate more in class.

Similarly, if you have a tic that's making things difficult for you at work, speak to your employer to find out whether any additional help and support is available.