Motor disorders on this page include

• Tic disorders
• Developmental coordination disorder
• Stereotypic movement disorder

A tic is a sudden, rapid, recurrent, nonrhythmic motor movement or vocalization. Tic disorders include Tourette syndrome (also called Tourette’s disorder), persistent motor or vocal tic disorder, and provisional tic disorder. According to the CDC, persistent tic disorders, including Tourette syndrome, may affect about 1.4 million people in the U.S.

The tic disorders differ from each other in terms of the type of tic present (motor or vocal, or a combination of both) and the timeline of symptoms. People with Tourette’s disorder have two or more motor tics and at least one vocal tic with symptoms for at least 1 year. People with persistent motor tic disorder have motor tics with symptoms for at least 1 year. People with vocal tic disorder have vocal tics with symptoms for at least 1 year. People with provisional tic disorders can have motor or vocal tics, or both, but have had their symptoms less than 1 year.

All tic disorders begin before age 18 years and cannot be due medications, substances, or other medical conditions. The tics may wax and wane in frequency and can include almost any muscle group or vocalization. Tics are classified as either simple or complex.

Simple motor tics are of short duration (i.e., milliseconds) involving only one muscle group or body part and include eye blinking or shoulder shrugging. Complex motor tics can be a combination of many simple motor tics or a series of movements that involve multiple muscle groups and include lip biting, clapping, or facial grimacing combined with a head twist.

Simple vocal tics involve a single sound typically by moving air through the nose or mouth and include throat clearing, sniffing, coughing, or grunting. Complex vocal tics may involve words, phrases and sentences. Patients with a complex vocal tic may repeat their own words (palilalia), other people’s words (echolalia), or use obscene words (coprolalia).

Tics are common in childhood and improve during adulthood. Males are more commonly affected by tics than females. Tics are often worsened by stress, anxiety, excitement, sleep deprivation, and exhaustion and are better during calm, focused activities.

People with tic disorders may also appear as if the person is performing a movement intentionally; however, tics are involuntary and can be difficult to suppress. This can be a particular problem when the individual is interacting with teachers, supervisors, or other authority figures. Providing educational resources on tics disorders can be helpful and potentially allow for accommodations.

Although there is no cure for tic disorders, there are treatments available to help manage the tics. Many individuals with mild to moderate tics experience no distress or problems functioning and may even be unaware of their tics. If that is the case, they do not require treatment. For those with severe tics that interfere with quality of life, tics may be managed with medications by your psychiatrist or behavioral therapies such as habit reversal therapy or comprehensive behavioral intervention for tics. Your psychiatrist can also screen for other commonly co-occurring conditions such as obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), or anxiety.

Physician Review

Avani “Avni" K. Patel, M.D., MHA
Psychiatrist, Mississippi Psychiatry & Wellness, PLLC
Council on Communications, American Psychiatric Association

2025

  References

Developmental coordination disorder impacts a person’s motor skills and can be seen as clumsiness (such as dropping or bumping into things) and having slow and inaccurate movements (such as when catching an object, handwriting, or riding a bike). A child with the disorder, also sometimes referred to as childhood dyspraxia, has motor skills substantially below expected given their age. The coordination problems significantly interfere with daily activities and impact school, work and play. In adults, everyday skills or activities requiring speed and accuracy are affected by coordination problems.

The symptoms of developmental coordination disorder begin in early childhood (through 24 months). However, it is typically not diagnosed before age 5 years because there is considerable variation in the age children develop many motor skills (e.g., some children catch up) or because other causes of the motor delay may not have become evident.

An estimated 5%–6% of children ages 5-11 years are affected by developmental coordination disorder and the problems with coordinated movements continue through adolescence in an estimated 50%–70% of children with the disorder.

Occupational therapy and physical therapy can be helpful in improving coordination and balance, strengthening weak muscles and accomplishing specific tasks. Classroom accommodations and assistive technologies, such as keyboards, touch screens and visual demonstration, can help. The disorder does not get worse over time. It most often continues into adulthood. Early treatment is best.

Physician Review

Darja Djordjevic, M.D., Ph.D.

August 2025

  References

Stereotypic movement disorder involves repetitive, seemingly driven, movement (such as hand shaking or body rocking). The repetitive motor behavior interferes with social, academic, or other activities and may result in self-injury. It usually starts in early childhood.

The severity of stereotypic movements ranges from small movements that are easily stopped by distractions to continuous movements that interfere with all activities of daily living. They can also include self-injurious behaviors (such as hitting one’s hand against one’s body or head banging). These behaviors are often rhythmical movements of the head, hands, or body. The movements may or may not respond to efforts to stop them.

While the stereotypic movements seem to have no purpose, they may serve to reduce anxiety in response to stressors. Examples of stereotypic movements include body rocking, bilateral flapping or rotating hand movements, flicking or fluttering fingers in front of the face, arm-waving or flapping, and head nodding. Stereotyped self-injurious behaviors can include repetitive head banging, face slapping, and biting of hands, lips, or other body parts.

Stereotypic movements may occur many times during a day, or there may be several weeks between episodes. The behavior can last a few seconds to several minutes or longer. The behaviors can occur in various situations—when the individual is engrossed in other activities, when excited, stressed, fatigued, or bored.

Simple stereotypic movements (such as rocking) are common in young, typically developing children. In most typically developing children, these movements fade over time. Among individuals with intellectual disability, behaviors may persist for years. Between 4% and 16% of individuals with intellectual disability engage in stereotypic movements. Stereotypic movements are also common in individuals with autism spectrum disorder.

Physician Review

Darja Djordjevic, M.D., Ph.D.

August 2025