Statistics show that among toddlers or children of school age, occurrence of facial tics is prevalent to a fifth of the population. Manifesting as eye squinting or blinking, facial grimacing, nose twitching or sniffing, these tics have been touted to be results of some physical or emotional stress. Anxiety and stress-induced tension increase the frequency of facial tics. There is also the possibility of genetic predisposition. Still, all of these are not conclusive causes of facial tics.

Childhood tics are usually short-lived and can just spontaneously disappear. However, certain tics can last indefinitely, which need the intervention of a medical professional for diagnosis and appropriate management.

What effect does a facial tic have on a child? In most cases, facial tics need not be a real cause for worry for parents and for the children, themselves. However, it can also happen that a simple facial tic can have a deep-seated and life-changing effect to a child due to the attendant social problems that may develop. While a child may eventually outgrow the tic, a child has to live through daily encounters of teasing, mimicking, and name-calling during its course, albeit brief. Embarrassing incidents such as these may bring about emotional trauma to the child that he/she may well carry to adulthood. Calling attention to the tic or a reprimand to stop, also brings another aggravation to the child. Other pressures like school-work demands, sibling conflicts, social interaction or overextended activities that may be physically and mentally tiring further increase the child’s anxiety and tension, thus, worsening or increasing the frequency facial tic attacks.

The family, especially parents, play a key role in helping a child deal with such pressures that cause stress and anxiety. Being in the dark about his/her unusual condition is a major stressor. Parents and siblings can help immensely by being aware of what to expect from a facial tic condition in a family member. Parents need to give the childe a simple explanation of what his/her facial tic is, and that it may eventually go away. This can have a very reassuring effect on their child knowing that there will be relief from his/her condition soon. This will also help him/her deal with peer curiosity on what really ails him/her that causes the unusual facial movements. In cases where the tic is more serious in nature, like Tourette syndrome, it is still in the best interest of the child that he/she is told of the condition as simply as possible.

The child also needs to be supported in their school work. Teachers need to be apprised of the tic condition of the child and how to deal with the effect of the condition on the child’s school performance and social interaction. Facial tics like blinking or grimacing may have an effect on their visual and reading functioning. Adults need to be more observant and sensitive to behaviors exhibited such irritability, low self-esteem or withdrawn, poor school performance, or aggressiveness resulting to conflicts with other children and dealing with peer rejection. Limiting the child’s activities to a degree that is not too physically as well as mentally taxing can help control tension, which can help diminish or prevent tic attacks.

The negative impact of facial tics in a child’s development is a real challenge. But education, awareness, observation and sensitivity to the condition, and firm and timely and appropriate support from family and the immediate community of the child can help prevent any damaging effect on the child’s personal development.