Written by the Inclusive Developmental and Therapy Center therapy team · medically reviewed by Dr Muhammad Suffyan, MB BS (GMC 8023727) · Last reviewed July 2026
Tics are sudden, repeated movements or sounds that a child doesn’t fully control — like blinking, sniffing, throat-clearing, shrugging or a repeated noise. They’re surprisingly common in childhood, often come and go, and frequently fade on their own. When both movement (motor) and sound (vocal) tics are present for over a year, it may be called Tourette’s syndrome.
Honest note on what we do: tics and Tourette’s are diagnosed and medically managed by a paediatrician or neurologist — that part isn’t ours. What our team supports is the side that so often matters most to families: the worry, frustration and knocks to confidence that can come with tics, and coping at school. We work alongside your child’s medical team, never in place of them.
What tics can look like
- Motor tics: blinking, grimacing, head jerks, shrugging, hand or body movements
- Vocal tics: sniffing, throat-clearing, grunting, coughing or repeated sounds/words
- Tics that come and go, change over time, or move from one type to another
- Getting worse when a child is tired, excited, stressed or anxious
- Briefly suppressible, but with a build-up of tension until the tic “has to” happen
- Upset, embarrassment or anxiety about the tics, especially around other children
- Teasing at school, or avoiding situations because of the tics
How we support children with tics in Multan
- A calm, reassuring space for your child to understand their tics and feel less alone with them
- Support with the anxiety, frustration and self-esteem that so often go alongside tics
- Practical strategies for stress and anxiety, since tics typically worsen when a child is tense
- Help for the whole family on how to respond — because drawing attention to tics or asking a child to “stop” usually makes them worse
- Advice you can share with school, so teachers understand tics aren’t naughtiness and can reduce teasing and pressure
🔴 Diagnosis and any medical treatment of tics or Tourette’s — including medication — sit with a paediatrician or neurologist, not with us. If your child has developed tics, a doctor should be your first port of call to understand what’s happening. Our role is the emotional, confidence and school-coping support around it, working alongside the medical team.
This is a general, made-up example, not a real child. Imagine a nine-year-old we’ll call Hamza, who developed a repeated blink and a throat-clearing sound that grew more noticeable when he was stressed. His parents had (rightly) seen a doctor about the tics themselves. What they came to us for was the fallout: Hamza had become anxious and self-conscious, a couple of classmates had started imitating him, and he didn’t want to go to school. The support focused on helping him feel less alone with it, calming the anxiety that made the tics spike, coaching the family not to keep flagging the tics, and giving school some simple advice to stop the teasing. Every child is different, but Hamza’s story shows the specific, alongside-the-doctor support we offer.
An illustrative, general example — not a real child. Every child is unique; the only way to know what yours needs is a proper assessment.Other areas we help with
Tics & Tourette’s: questions parents ask
Do you diagnose or treat Tourette’s?
No. Tics and Tourette’s syndrome are diagnosed and medically managed by a paediatrician or neurologist, and any medication decisions are theirs. If your child has developed tics, a doctor should be your first port of call. What we provide is support for the emotional and school side — the anxiety, self-esteem and coping that often matter most to children and families — working alongside the medical team.
Are tics in children common, and do they go away?
Tics are common in childhood, and in many children they come and go and fade over time, especially milder ones. Some children have tics that last longer or are diagnosed as Tourette’s. Either way, a doctor is the right person to assess and advise on the tics themselves. The emotional impact, though, is very responsive to support, which is where our team can help.
Should I tell my child to stop the tics?
It’s completely understandable to want to, but asking a child to stop, or repeatedly drawing attention to tics, usually makes them worse — tics aren’t naughtiness and generally can’t be simply switched off, and the pressure adds stress that increases them. A calmer, low-attention response at home tends to help, and we can guide the whole family on this.
My child is anxious and teased because of tics. Can you help?
Yes — this is exactly where we can help. We support children with the anxiety, embarrassment and knocks to confidence that tics can bring, give them a space to feel understood, and offer schools simple advice so teachers can reduce teasing and pressure. Helping a child feel calmer and more accepted often eases the distress and, because stress feeds tics, can help in that way too.
Do tics get worse when my child is stressed?
Very often, yes. Tics commonly increase when a child is tired, excited, anxious or under stress, and settle when they’re calm and relaxed. That’s one reason supporting a child’s anxiety and stress can be so valuable alongside their medical care — not as a treatment for the tics themselves, but to help your child cope and feel better day to day.
Worried about your child? Let’s talk.
A short, friendly conversation is the best first step. Call, text or WhatsApp us — we’ll listen and guide you, with no pressure.
MPS Road, Block A Model Town, Multan (near Bloomfield Hall School, Street No. 2) · Mon–Sat, 10 AM – 7 PM