Tics are sudden twitches of whole muscle groups, most commonly affecting the eye, mouth, shoulder, and neck. A tic may take the form of sounds, such as throat clearing or grunting noises. Shouting out words and profanities — the stereotypical image of a tic disorder — is rare.

Tics usually occur in waves: blinking eyes for a week or two, then facial grimacing or vocal grunting after a period of little tic activity. Tics can be made worse by stress and physical fatigue. Boys have tics and Tourette Syndrome, the most severe form of tic disorder, four times more frequently than do girls. Tics and Tourette usually occur simultaneously with another disorder — most commonly ADHD, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and mood disorders.

To determine if your child is showing symptoms of a tic disorder, including Tourette Syndrome, take the results of thisself-test to your doctor for a full evaluation.

Adapted from the symptoms described on Childbrain.com and the Yale Global Tic Severity Scale from the Yale Child Study Center. This is not a diagnostic tool. An accurate diagnosis can only be made through clinical evaluation. This self-test is for personal use only.

Does your child demonstrate repeated sudden twitches or jerks of the extremities? These can include eye blinking, neck twisting, muscle tightening, shoulder shrugging, or any similar movement.

Very Often

Often

Sometimes

Rarely

Never

Does your child utter involuntary sounds, like grunts, yelps, squeaks, or throat clears?

Very Often

Often

Sometimes

Rarely

Never

Does your child mimic the motions or words of others, in a manner that appears involuntary?

Very Often

Often

Sometimes

Rarely

Never

Does your child involuntarily carry out known gestures, like waving, reaching or vulgar actions (like giving “the finger”)?

Very Often

Often

Sometimes

Rarely

Never

For any relevant tics from above, how long have they lasted?

Very Often

Often

Sometimes

Rarely

Never

If tics have lasted for longer than 4 weeks, have they been present for more than a year?

Very Often

Often

Sometimes

Rarely

Never

Is your child demonstrating more than one type of tic (motor or vocal)?

Very Often

Often

Sometimes

Rarely

Never

Do these tics ever cause severe emotional or social distress for your child?

Very Often

Often

Sometimes

Rarely

Never

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[Self-Test] Tic Disorders in Children

Could your child’s abrupt movements and involuntary sounds be signs of a tic disorder like Tourette Syndrome? Use this screener quiz to assess whether to pursue an evaluation with a medical professional.

Tic Disorder in Children: Next Steps

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