ticuhäired

Tic disorders, also known as ticuhäired in Estonian, are a group of neurological conditions characterized by sudden, rapid, recurrent, non-rhythmic motor movements or vocalizations. These movements and sounds are called tics. Tics can vary widely in type, severity, and frequency. Motor tics involve physical movements such as blinking, shrugging, or jerking limbs. Vocal tics involve sounds like throat clearing, sniffing, or uttering words or phrases. Tics can be simple, involving a few muscle groups or sounds, or complex, involving multiple muscle groups or more elaborate vocalizations.

The exact cause of tic disorders is not fully understood, but they are believed to be related to a combination of genetic and environmental factors that affect certain areas of the brain, particularly the basal ganglia. These disorders are often diagnosed in childhood and can persist into adulthood, though in many cases, tics may lessen or disappear over time. Stress, excitement, fatigue, and illness can sometimes exacerbate tics.

Common tic disorders include Tourette syndrome, which is characterized by multiple motor tics and at least one vocal tic, and persistent (chronic) tic disorder, which involves either motor tics or vocal tics, but not both. Provisional tic disorder is diagnosed when tics are present for less than a year. Diagnosis is typically made based on a clinical evaluation of the tics and their impact on an individual's life. While there is no cure for tic disorders, various treatments can help manage symptoms. These may include behavioral therapies, such as habit reversal training and exposure and response prevention, as well as medication to reduce tic severity.