I like observing people, as a pastime, wherever, whenever. Facial expressions and body language has always fascinated me. One major observation I have is that people, invariably, have movements that are either very subtly discernible or very pronounced, voluntary or involuntary. I, then, try to distinguish if these movements are mannerisms or are they physical conditions such as facial tics?

Mannerisms are varied. They come in the form of biting fingernails, playing with wisps of hair strands, fiddling objects like a pen, a keychain, gesturing with the hands, or making facial expressions such as wetting the lips, rolling the eyes from side to side, among others. There are a million and one actuations that a person can acquire as a mannerism. The operative word here is acquired or developed over time.

Facial tics are something else. They are repetitious, jerky, and sporadic movements often involving the eyes and facial muscles. A short-lived tic called transient tic is a temporary condition that eventually disappears. A Chronic tic disorder is characterized by a regular and prolonged period of occurrence of more than a year. The most common facial tics, whether transient or chronic, are eye blinking, squinting, or rolling, facial grimaces or facial distortions, wrinkling of the nose, twitching of the mouth, repeated raising of eyebrows, or snorting.

There is Gilles de la Tourette syndrome. This, however, is a nervous system disorder of which the most common initial symptom is facial tics. Chronic tics may be symptomatic of this disorder.

Facial tics start, most often, in young children. There are more incidences in boys than in girls, four times over. I often wonder whenever I chance upon someone who has facial tics, what impact does it have on this person’s life? A child with a tic condition may become the object of constant teasing and ribbing and mimicking by peers. I have been witness to this. Sadly, children can be unknowingly cruel in that way sometimes. How about an adult who has had to live with a facial tic? What life opportunities had passed him/her by because his/her tic condition got in the way? How is their work affected by facial tics?

No special tests are done to diagnose tics. A simple physical exam would do. To date, nothing has been determined as cause for tics. However, there are continuing efforts at discovering its cause, its correlation with other conditions such as attention deficit disorder, in search of appropriate remedies to alleviate the condition. Some have had some success in controlling facial tics through supplements or change in diet . Some medications have also been prescribed but they are not without side effects.

Can facial tics be prevented? Occurrence of facial tics cannot be prevented. Stress seems to have an aggravating effect on facial tics. Coping mechanisms such as counseling, meditation and exercise may help in stress reduction. It is reassuring to know, however, that in most cases of affliction with facial tics, except for Tourette syndrome, no complications are expected to occur.