Tics
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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.
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Content updated on Jan 4, 2023
About 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
- Tics
A condition where the patient experiences a strong, almost irresistible urge to perform an action (e.g., shaking the head, squeezing the eyes, or making a particular noise). Most tics will improve with the transition to adulthood; however, the condition may persist for some. Known triggers include sleep deprivation, excitement, and stressful events.
- Hyperactivity disorder
Hyperactivity disorder or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is 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, low birth weight. It's is more common in male cildren.
- Spiny red cell chorea
Spiny red cell chorea or Chorea-acanthocytosis is neurological condition characterized by misshapen, spiny red blood cells (acanthocytosis) and chorea. Chorea is characterized by rapid, involuntary, purposeless movements. It's caused by inherited gene mutations.
- Paroxysmal exercise-induced dance athetosis
Huntington's disease
Questions your doctor may ask about this symptom
Your doctor may ask these questions to check for this symptom
Do you have repetitive movements such as jerking your shoulders, twitching your face muscles, or blinking your eyes?
Do you have a fever?
Do you have headaches or does your head feel heavy?
Do you have problems focusing or a reduced sense of awareness in your surroundings?
Do you feel any numbness or change in sensation?
Other Related Symptoms
Similar symptoms or complaints
Symptoms from the same body system / part
Symptoms treated by the same specialty
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.
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Seiji Kanazawa, MD, PHD
Obstetrics and gynecology (OBGYN)
National Center for Child Health and Development, Japan