What are the two main features that characterize a tic?

The characteristics that help define a tic primarily involve its type and frequency. Tics are involuntary, sudden, repetitive movements or sounds, and their classification often revolves around the nature of the tic itself (such as motor or vocal) and how often they occur.

The type of tic can determine both its presentation and the challenges faced by the individual, while frequency provides insight into the tic's impact on daily functioning and may guide management strategies.

Duration and intensity, although relevant to understanding tics in context, do not form the core defining features that characterize them. Duration pertains to how long a tic lasts during an episode, and intensity refers to the level of force exerted during the tic, but these aspects are secondary to the fundamental characteristics of type (what kind of tic it is—motor, vocal, simple, complex) and frequency (how often it occurs). This makes type and frequency the primary characteristics essential to identifying and characterizing the nature of tics.