Tic disorders are characterized by quick, repetitive muscle movements that result in sudden and difficult to control body jolts or sounds.
As of now, there are those tic disorders:
Chronic motor / phonic tic disorder - involves quick, uncontrollable movements (in motor tics disorder) or vocalizations (in phonic tic disorder). Tics usually start at the age of 5-6 and get worse until the age of 12. They often improve in adulthood.
Provisional tic disorder - like in chronic tic disorder, but lasting for less than a year
Tourette's syndrome - neurodevelopmental disorder starting in childhood or adolescence. It is characterized by multiple movement (motor) tics and at least one vocal (phonic) tic. There's no cure for it.
Tics can be both not harmful and harmful - such as biting, hitting or cursing.
Motor tics can be: blinking, nose twitching, head jerking
Vocal tics can be: sniffling, coughing, echolalia
What causes tic disorders? It's still unsure what exactly are the reasons behind it. Some scientists believe it's caused by changes in parts of the brain responsible for movement control. Tics can also run in families, pointing at a possible genetic component.
Tics can be also sometimes accompanied by ADHD or/and OCD.
How can a tic disorder be included in writing stories?
→ you can show how the character's everyday's life is accompanied by tics
→ other characters can point it out; either in a teasing or compassionate way
→ you can describe how the tics get worse when the character is under stress or pressure
→ a character with a vocal tic has to explain to someone else why they shouted or cursed at them (because of their ticks)
If the tics are severe (severely impacting the individual), therapy and medication can be prescribed.
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