How to handle a child's tics

MY neighbour’s child was only five when she noticed that he blinked a lot. Reassured by numerous family members and friends (some of whom were physicians) that it would go away on its own, she tried to ignore it.  

Such tics are, in fact, common. Almost 20% of children develop one before age 10. The most common tics – called “simple tics” – involve straightforward gestures, such as eye blinking, lip smacking or facial grimacing, and meaningless noises, such as throat clearing, coughing or grunting.