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Neurodevelopmental

Persistent motor or vocal tic disorder

Motor or vocal tics, but not both types, present for more than one year and with onset before the age of 18.

Common signs

Repeated motor (or vocal) ticsWorse with stress or tirednessCan be held back for a while, with effort

Tips

For you

  1. Reduce stress and look after your sleep
  2. Ask about behavioural intervention for tics (CBIT)
  3. Get help if they cause distress or limitations

For family and friends

  1. Reduce stress at home and look after rest
  2. Avoid comments about the tics

When to ask for help

  1. If they interfere with daily life
  2. If they cause pain or injury

Guidance test

Answer thinking about the last few weeks. There are 8 questions and you get your result straight away. Your answers are not saved or sent.

0 of 8
1. I have repeated movements or sounds I can't control
2. I have had the tics for more than a year
3. They increase when I'm stressed
4. I feel an urge before the tic
5. I try to hide them
6. They bother or embarrass me
7. They appear several times a day
8. They interfere with my activities

Free resources

Downloadable PDF sheetSigns, tips and resources to print or saveFree guide: Childhood and youthFree resource from Clínica Vivaldi

Related disorders

Intellectual disabilityNeurodevelopmentalGlobal developmental delayNeurodevelopmentalLanguage disorderNeurodevelopmentalSpeech sound disorderNeurodevelopmental

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Reviewed by María Teresa Fernández Vicente, health psychologist and neuropsychologist (registration no. CV17304), in November 2026. Educational information prepared by the Clínica Vivaldi team based on the DSM-5-TR classification. It does not replace a professional assessment and cannot be used to diagnose.