Home > Children & Young People > Neurology >

Tics and Tourette's in children

Checked: 18-07-2024 by Rob Adams Next Review: 17-07-2026

Overview

Tics

Tics are repetitive involuntary movements or sounds like twitches, grunts, or coughs. They are quite common in early childhood around primary school age and usually improve over time.

Occasionally they first appear in older children or adults. Although they are not harmful, they can be a nuisance, embarrassing or get in the way of doing things. Tics may not require any treatment at all. They are often made worse by stress and anxiety.

See this NHS link for further information for parents and children: Tics and what to do about them

Tourette Syndrome (TS)

Tourette syndrome is a neurological condition which is inherited, and is more common in boys. Key features of TS include tics which have been going on for over a year. Young people with TS may also experience other conditions too, such as ADHD , anxiety and OCD. Tics are often made worse by worry and stress but can come and go. Sometimes one tic will go, only to be replaced by another.

See the Children's Hospital Guidelines: Tics /Tourette's in Paediatric Patients.

Before Referral

Most children with Tics or TS can be managed in the community with reassurance and self-help (see HappyMaps link above).

If advice is required then consider Paediatric Advice and Guidance.

Best outcomes come from treating comorbidities confidently and early.

Referral

If other related conditions are suspected please refer to the following pages for advice on referral:

If not responding to support and reassurance in primary care consider referral to:

General Paediatrics only to confirm diagnosis (if needed) – A&G referral or Clinic referral via eRS
Refer to SENCO/Community Paediatrics if significant/impairing comorbidity as above – ADHD most common- (or you have an incomplete assessment). Please also refer if at risk of school exclusion and they can also be signposted to SENCO/Educational Psychology support in meantime.
Refer to CAMHS if concerns about OCD/anxiety/depression/severe mental disorder. In the meantime can seek support from “Off the Record”/Happymaps app

Refer to Community Paediatrics or CAMHS using SPE referral form: SPE Form June 2024

Efforts are made to ensure the accuracy and agreement of these guidelines, including any content uploaded, referred to or linked to from the system. However, BNSSG ICB cannot guarantee this. This guidance does not override the individual responsibility of healthcare professionals to make decisions appropriate to the circumstances of the individual patient, in consultation with the patient and/or guardian or carer, in accordance with the mental capacity act, and informed by the summary of product characteristics of any drugs they are considering. Practitioners are required to perform their duties in accordance with the law and their regulators and nothing in this guidance should be interpreted in a way that would be inconsistent with compliance with those duties.

Information provided through Remedy is continually updated so please be aware any printed copies may quickly become out of date.