Tics are movements or sounds that are repeated over and over. A person with a tic can't control the movement or sounds.
Tics usually last less than a year.
Throat clearing and eye squinting are common tics. Tics are often worse when a person feels stressed, tired or anxious. Some medicines can make tics worse. Tourette's syndrome is a type of tic disorder. Children with Tourette's syndrome have both repetitive movements and sounds, but they may not always occur together.