Defining Allergic Tics

Allergic Tics: Individuals who are diagnosed with Tourette's Syndrome and other similar disorders often experience motor tics. Individuals with tics as a result of Tourette's and other, similar disorders report that at least a portion of the motor tics are allergic tics. Tics in general are can be any involuntary movement or vocalization  that is inappropriate in the time or place. Tics that are associated with or dependent upon external stimuli are classified as allergic tics.

Treatment: 1/5 of all Americans are said to have allergies of some sort. Many medical experts suggest that allergies cause a heavy percentage of unexplainable motor tics.

Once external stimuli causing allergic tics have been identified the most effective treatment is avoidance of the stimuli. This is the most effective preventive treatment for any allergy related condition.

Another method that can sometimes be effective in reducing the occurrence of tics is medication. The use of medication in preventing or decreasing the severity of tics is most often used in response to tics or allergic tics that inhibit or interfere with day to day function.

Some doctors prescribe immunotherapy treatment for individuals suffering from tics. When undergoing immunotherapy treatment patients take extracts of molds, pollens and/or dusts (whatever they are allergic to as identified by an Allergist).

The extracts increase in potency throughout treatment gradually. The extracts are most often administered as oral drops placed under the patient's tongue. Many individuals suffering from mild to severe allergic tics will see their tic drastically decrease or even disappear altogether within months of starting effective immunotherapy treatment.

A few typical allergic tics are: shoulder shrugs, blinking, squinting, grimacing, eye rolling, head jerks, etc.

Summary: Preventing allergic tics is the most effective treatment. To prevent allergic tics individuals must identify external stimuli and avoid exposure to them. In some cases this isn't possible. In these cases medication or immunotherapy can be an effective treatment to reduce severity of tics or even to eliminate the allergic tic.