Facial tics may be the simple motor tics characterized by excessive eye
winking or blinking, mouth grimacing, or nose sniffing or twitching. They
eventually disappear after some time. Complex motor tics, on the other hand,
last for more than a year and may be symptomatic of Tourette syndrome or
some other disorder like attention-deficit disorder, obsessive-compulsive
disorder, or a learning disability, among others. A combination of tics
such as eye winking with a head thrust or a shoulder shrug, or other motor
movements such as slapping the face, or vocal tics that includes grunting,
barking or swearing are just some of the examples of complex tics.
When a child in the family has a facial tic, the lives of the rest of the
family members are also affected. All the people that the child interacts
with—parents, siblings, teachers, relatives, neighbors, and schoolmates—
have significant roles in helping the child cope with his/her condition.
Some helpful tips that parents can do are as follows:
Parents, foremost, should explain to the child what his/.her condition.
This can help ease the child’s apprehension on what afflicts him/her; teach
him/her what to do during a tic attack and how to avoid it. Knowing all
these things will help the child explain his/her condition to whoever asks.
Parents also have to inform all the significant people about the child’s
unusual condition. Educating them will give them a better understanding
of what the child is going through and will help them support the child
accordingly. Correct information will also prevent any further speculations
or discussions about the condition.
Avoid calling the attention of the child when he/she is having a tic
attack. Understand the reprimanding or asking the child to control his/her
tic does not work. Instead, minding the tic only causes anxiety and tension
in the child that will exacerbate it. The more effective approach is to
simply ignore the tic.
Parents should create a journal that will record, as faithfully as possible,
each episode, writing the significant information surrounding the tic attack.
This accumulated information may serve as a valuable resource in determining
what the stressors or triggers to tic episodes are.
Ease up on expectations of the child in his/her academic performance.
Extra curricular involvements can be lessened so that there is more time
for fun and relaxation for the child. Observe and record any changes in
the tic pattern, or behavioral characteristics that may necessitate immediate
referral to a medical professional.
Reassure the child that the tic will eventually go away. Build up his/her
self-confidence by praising the child’s achievements or good deeds.
Facial tics can make a child feel inferior to his/her peers. It is the parents'
role to continually reassure the child that having a facial tic does not
make him/her less than the other kids.