Tics
Free Symptom Checker
with Physician-supervised AI
Reviewed By:
Bret Mobley, MD, MS (Neuropathology)
Dr. Mobley graduated from the University of Michigan Medical School, completing a masters degree in neuroscience between his second and third years of medical school. He trained as a resident in pathology at Stanford University Hospital before joining the faculty of Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville Tennessee in 2010. He was promoted to Associate Professor in 2018 and to Neuropathology Division Director in 2020.
Shohei Harase, MD (Neurology)
Dr. Harase spent his junior and senior high school years in Finland and the U.S. After graduating from the University of Washington (Bachelor of Science, Molecular and Cellular Biology), he worked for Apple Japan Inc. before entering the University of the Ryukyus School of Medicine. He completed his residency at Okinawa Prefectural Chubu Hospital, where he received the Best Resident Award in 2016 and 2017. In 2021, he joined the Department of Cerebrovascular Medicine at the National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center, specializing in hyperacute stroke.
Yu Shirai, MD (Psychiatry)
Dr. Shirai works at the Yotsuya Yui Clinic for mental health treatment for English and Portuguese-speaking patients. He treats a wide range of patients from neurodevelopmental disorders to dementia in children and participates in knowledge sharing through the Diversity Clinic.
Content updated on Jan 4, 2023
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Sudden movement
Motor tics
Habit of blinking more than necessary
Sudden uttered sounds
Tics
Vocal tics
Tourette's syndrome
Movement disorder
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How Ubie Can Help You
With an easy 3-min questionnaire , Ubie's AI-powered system will generate a free report on possible causes.
Questions are customized to your situation and symptoms, including the following personal information:
Biological Sex - helps us provide relevant suggestions for male vs. female conditions.
Age - adjusts our guidance based on any age-related health factors.
History - considers past illnesses, surgeries, family history, and lifestyle choices.
Your symptoms
Our AI
Your report
Your personal report will tell you
✔ When to see a doctor
✔︎ What causes your symptoms
✔︎ Treatment information etc.
People with similar symptoms also use Ubie's symptom checker to find possible causes
- I have a habit of jerking my face
- I shake my shoulder unconsciously
Just 3 minutes.
Developed by doctors.
Try Free Symptom QuizAbout the Symptom
Tics are repetitive movements or sounds. The person experiencing tics cannot control them. Tics are due to changes in the parts of the brain that control movement.
When to See a Doctor
Seek professional care if you experience any of the following symptoms
- Irresistible urge to make small movements
Possible Causes
Generally, Tics can be related to:
- Spiny Red Cell Chorea
Spiny red cell chorea, also known as chorea-acanthocytosis or Levine-Critchley syndrome, is a very rare neurological disorder characterized by high numbers of misshapen, spiny red blood cells (acanthocytes) circulating in the bloodstream, combined with rapid, involuntary, purposeless movements (chorea). Additional symptoms can include include seizures and odd behavior. The disorder is caused by a mutation on the VPS13A gene and runs in families.
- Tics
A condition where patients experience a strong, almost irresistible urge to perform an action like shaking their head, squeezing their eyes, or making a particular noise. Most tics improve with the transition to adulthood, but may persist for some. Known triggers include sleep deprivation, excitement, and stress.
- Hyperkinetic Disorder
Hyperkinetic Disorder is a chronic condition characterized by attention difficulty, hyperactivity, and impulsiveness. It often begins in childhood and can cause a child to have trouble in school, at home, or with friends. Causes may include genetics, head injury, exposure to environmental risks (e.g., lead) during pregnancy or at a young age, alcohol and tobacco use during pregnancy, premature delivery, and low birth weight. It is more common in male children.
- Paroxysmal Kinesigenic Dyskinesia
Doctor's Diagnostic Questions
Your doctor may ask these questions to check for this symptom:
- Do you have repetitive movements like shoulder jerking, facial muscle twitching, or eye blinking?
- How long have you had repeated twitching of face, shoulders, eyelids (tics)?
- How has the twitching changed since it started?
Just 3 minutes.
Developed by doctors.
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Reviewed By:
Bret Mobley, MD, MS (Neuropathology)
Dr. Mobley graduated from the University of Michigan Medical School, completing a masters degree in neuroscience between his second and third years of medical school. He trained as a resident in pathology at Stanford University Hospital before joining the faculty of Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville Tennessee in 2010. He was promoted to Associate Professor in 2018 and to Neuropathology Division Director in 2020.
Shohei Harase, MD (Neurology)
Dr. Harase spent his junior and senior high school years in Finland and the U.S. After graduating from the University of Washington (Bachelor of Science, Molecular and Cellular Biology), he worked for Apple Japan Inc. before entering the University of the Ryukyus School of Medicine. He completed his residency at Okinawa Prefectural Chubu Hospital, where he received the Best Resident Award in 2016 and 2017. In 2021, he joined the Department of Cerebrovascular Medicine at the National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center, specializing in hyperacute stroke.
Yu Shirai, MD (Psychiatry)
Dr. Shirai works at the Yotsuya Yui Clinic for mental health treatment for English and Portuguese-speaking patients. He treats a wide range of patients from neurodevelopmental disorders to dementia in children and participates in knowledge sharing through the Diversity Clinic.
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