What are 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. Sometimes they can be so severe, that they interfere with normal life but for others, tics may not require any treatment at all. They are often made worse by stress and anxiety.
Tics and what to do about them
What are functional tics? Great Ormond Street Hospital is a national centre for tics – here they explain the difference between the different types of tics and the increase in functional tics over recent years.
What is CBIT or comprehensive behavioural intervention for tics? This therapy is showing promise for tics and Tourette’s sufferers but is not always available on the NHS. You can find plenty of videos on YouTube which explain how it works
What is Tourette Syndrome (TS)?
Is a neurological condition which is inherited, i.e., runs in families, 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. Click on the individual words for more links on any specific problems. 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 information above on Comprehensive Behavioural Intervention Therapy (CBIT)
More professional guidance and support
- Tics and twitches This article from the Children’s Society provides a good summary of tics and twitches and how to control them. It’s written for children, so it’s easy to understand.
- Tourettes Action UK This website has a wealth of useful information for parents, teachers and young people, including symptoms, causes and diagnosis of TS, managing TS, information about support in school, the latest research, and a large resource library.
- Tourette Syndrome Information from Great Ormond Street
Books
Film: I Swear
The highly acclaimed film, I Swear, (certificate 15 ) which came out in 2025 is based on a true story of a young man with severe Tourette’s syndrome.
What are ORBIT and Neupulse?
Neupulse is a new potential treatment for Tourette’s, a nerve stimulator worn on the wrist, featured in the film I Swear and which is being assessed by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) for use in the NHS.
ORBIT (Online Remote Behavioural Intervention for Tics) is a digital online programme, first developed in Sweden, for chronic tic disorders and Tourette’s. It is a ten week programme , supported by an online coach and can be used from 9 years. It is also being assessed for use in the NHS.
You can read the early assessment “NICE” document of both of these in full here, including where there are gaps in the evidence which need to be addressed. It is likely that both will be available in the NHS, initially as part of a trial comparing them with existing treatments and with each other.
Neupulse will be available to purchase privately from June 2026 but at the moment is not recommended for under 12’s. There can in fact be adverse side-effects, including sometimes an increase in tics or distress, and experts do not recommend use without advice of a health professional.