Why Does My Child Keep Blinking, Sniffing, or Making Other Sounds and Movements?

One day your child won't stop blinking.

A few weeks later it's sniffing. Then throat clearing. Maybe a shoulder shrug or facial movement.

And suddenly you're watching them constantly, wondering:

Is this a habit? Allergies? Anxiety? Are they doing it on purpose?

One possible explanation is tics.

What Do Tics Look Like in Kids?

Tics are repetitive movements or sounds that can be difficult to resist.

Motor tics can include:

• Eye blinking
• Facial movements or grimacing
• Head movements
• Shoulder shrugging
• Other repeated body movements

Vocal tics can include:

• Sniffing
• Throat clearing
• Coughing
• Grunting
• Humming or other sounds

That's why tics are sometimes mistaken for allergies, habits, or behaviors a child should simply be able to stop.

Can My Child Control Their Tics?

Sort of. And this is where things get confusing.

Many kids can suppress a tic temporarily. That doesn't mean the tic is voluntary.

Some describe an uncomfortable sensation or urge before the tic, almost like needing to sneeze or scratch an itch. Doing the tic relieves that feeling for a little while.

Holding tics back can also take a lot of effort.

That's one reason we sometimes hear:

"His teacher says she barely sees it, but the second he gets home he's ticcing constantly."

That doesn't necessarily mean your child suddenly got worse at 3:30.

They may have spent the school day suppressing and finally stopped working so hard to hold everything in.

Why Do My Child's Tics Keep Changing or Getting Worse?

Tics commonly wax and wane. They can get louder or more frequent, quiet down, disappear for a while, or be replaced by a completely different tic.

They may also become more noticeable with:

• Stress or anxiety
• Excitement
• Fatigue
• Illness

Even fun things like birthdays, vacations, and holidays can temporarily increase tics.

And constantly saying "Stop blinking" or "Why are you making that noise?" usually isn't helpful. It can increase your child's attention to something they're already having trouble ignoring.

When Should I Get My Child's Tics Evaluated?

Not every child with a tic needs treatment.

An evaluation becomes particularly useful when tics are painful, embarrassing, distressing, interfering with school or friendships, causing avoidance, or simply leaving your family unsure about what to do.

A tic specialist can also help determine what you're actually seeing and whether treatment makes sense.

What Is CBIT?

If tics are causing problems, there is a behavioral treatment specifically designed for them.

Comprehensive Behavioral Intervention for Tics (CBIT) helps kids understand their tic patterns and learn strategies for responding to urges differently.

Importantly, CBIT isn't just telling a kid to stop ticcing.

It's a structured, evidence-based treatment specifically for tic disorders.

What Should I Do as a Parent?

For now, one of the most useful things you can do is stop treating every tic like an emergency.

Your child doesn't need you monitoring every blink or sniff.

And if they're struggling, they don't need another person telling them to try harder to stop.

They need adults who understand what's happening and know when to leave the tic alone and when getting specialized help could actually make life easier.

Written by Ashley Annestedt, LCSW

Ashley specializes in OCD, Tourette syndrome, tic disorders, skin picking disorder, trichotillomania, and PANDAS/PANS using evidence-based treatments including ERP, I-CBT, ACT, CBIT, and ComB. For nearly 20 years, she has helped thousands of children, adolescents, adults, and families better understand these conditions and regain confidence in their daily lives.