Phonic or Vocal Tics

Mouth | Neurology | Phonic or Vocal Tics (Symptom)


Description

Phonic tics are involuntary sounds produced by moving air through the nose, mouth, or throat. They may be alternately referred to as verbal tics or vocal tics, but most diagnosticians prefer the term phonic tics to reflect the notion that the vocal cords are not involved in all tics that produce sound.

The outbursts may be voluntary (controlled) or semi-voluntary (occurring in response to an impulse that is largely beyond the control of an individual). It starts involuntary (or semi-voluntary) are a feature of certain neurological diseases characterized by other types of tics, involuntary movements.

Causes

The classic example is Tourette syndrome, but other neurological disorders can also result in vocal outbursts. Psychiatric illnesses such as schizophrenia may have vocal outbursts as a symptom, and some people who have dementia or other forms of brain damage may show outbursts vocal expression in the form of uncontrolled or poorly regulated. Alcohol and other drugs can also lead to a deterioration of behaviour and control, which sometimes leads to vocal outbursts.

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