My child has a nervous tic, should I be concerned?

My son has a nervous tic

Observing that your child has a nervous tic can be worrisome, especially if it's something that comes on suddenly. Ticks are involuntary movements that can be motor, such as a blink, a movement in the shoulder or neck. And they can also be loud, a constant throat clearing, the repetition of words or noises. These tics are very common in children and adolescents.

They are often worse in stressful situations, when children are studying at a time of great concentration, involuntary tic tends to get worse. Although it can also occur when the child spends a lot of time in front of a screen, the computer, a mobile phone or the television. Tics in children and adolescents are very common, but are they worrisome?

Why does a tic disorder occur?

Nervous tic due to excess screens

Tic nervous can be caused by various reasons, for psychological issues, environmental factors and even, in tics there is a genetic component. This means that if your child has a tic, it is very likely that one of his parents also had it in childhood, even if he continues to maintain it in adulthood. To diagnose tic and find a possible medical cause, it is necessary to consult with the pediatrician.

Observe your child very well to detect when the tic occurs, if it is related to certain circumstances and if it worsens at specific times. All this information is very important so that the pediatrician can perform a study and obtain a diagnosis. Since, although in many cases it is something that goes away in the same way it appears, it may be related to neurological problems and other medical problems, such as eye pathologies.

When a nervous tic lasts a long time, more than a year, happens to be determined as chronic nervous tic and it is when it acquires a more serious consideration on the part of the specialists. This is because this type of involuntary movements may be related to disorders such as ADHD, Tourette Syndrome or Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.

What do I do if my child has a nervous tic?

Ophthalmological examination in children

Mainly it is essential to remain calm and avoid comments that can make the tic worse. The child's tic may upset you, worry you, and lead you to try to control it by force. You must be aware that the child cannot control this involuntary act of his body, either physical or sound. So instead of getting upset and trying to get the child to control it, look for possible causes.

The tic disorder is an involuntary movement, which means that it cannot be controlled. What can be is work to reduce frequency and intensity, but this takes time and patience. When it comes to children, it is even more important to be patient and understanding, since for them it is something totally normal. Feeling pressure on something you cannot control will only complicate the situation.

One of the most frequent is usually found in vision problems. If your child has a tic in the eye, go to the ophthalmologist's office as the first option. Limit the use of screens, because in any case they are not beneficial. Try to locate the focus, what causes the tic in your childThis way you can distract the child before the situation worsens.

In the event that the nervous tic lasts too long, spend a few months and also observe other characteristics such as mood swings, lack of concentration or your child develops many manias, go to the pediatrician's office. You should also pay attention to your child's sleep habits, if he has night terrors, has trouble reaching deep sleep, has headaches or changes his school performance.


All these signs can be a red flag, observe your child, write down everything that may be relevant and consult with the doctor as soon as possible. Most likely, it is little or nothing of concern and will go away naturally over time. Take it easy, observe your child and at the slightest doubt, go to the doctor.


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