Who is this assessment for?
This assessment may be useful whether you are newly navigating a tic disorder or trying to make sense of challenges that have persisted despite previous interventions.
- Parents of children with Tourette syndrome or chronic tic disorders who want a clearer understanding of the factors that may be contributing to tic-related challenges.
- Adults with Tourette syndrome or tic disorders who want to better understand their own patterns, challenges, and opportunities for improvement.
- Adolescents with tic disorders who are interested in gaining a clearer picture of the factors affecting their daily life and functioning.
- Clinicians and professionals who want to provide clients with a structured assessment process focused on identifying patterns, priorities, and opportunities before intervention.
What kinds of insights can the assessment provide?
The assessment identifies patterns that may not be obvious from memory alone.
Depending on the information collected, findings may relate to sleep, stress, suppression effort, sensory demands, transitions, recovery, daily routines, environmental factors, or other influences.
In some cases, the assessment may help explain why certain days, situations, or activities appear to be associated with greater challenges while others seem to go more smoothly.
Findings should not be interpreted as proof of cause and effect. Instead, they highlight patterns that may deserve closer attention.
We've already seen several specialists. Why would this be different?
Most clinical appointments focus on diagnosis, intervention planning, or symptom management.
This assessment focuses on understanding patterns across daily life and identifying the factors that appear most relevant to tic-related challenges before deciding what deserves attention.
What if we've already tried CBIT?
This assessment is not a replacement for CBIT.
Instead, it focuses on understanding patterns, contributing factors, and priorities before deciding which interventions may deserve attention.
Some families complete the assessment before pursuing intervention. Others use it to better understand what may be affecting results from interventions they have already tried.
Is this assessment evidence-based?
Functional assessment is a recognized component of CBIT (Comprehensive Behavioral Intervention for Tics), one of the most well-established behavioral interventions for tic disorders.
This assessment focuses specifically on the understanding phase of the process—identifying patterns, contributing factors, and opportunities that may deserve further attention.
It is not a diagnostic tool, treatment program, or replacement for medical care.
Learn more about the methodology.
What if the assessment doesn't find anything important?
Not every assessment uncovers a major overlooked factor.
The assessment systematically identifies patterns, opportunities, and uncertainties based on the available information.
Sometimes the most valuable finding is confirming what appears to matter most. Other times it is ruling out assumptions and narrowing the range of possibilities.
Why is tracking necessary?
Tracking is only required for the Comprehensive option. Standard can be useful when families want a structured, clinician-reviewed interpretation of reported patterns. Comprehensive is useful when the picture is more complex or when real-world context may be difficult to reconstruct from memory. It adds guided check-ins across normal routines so the report can analyze daily-life patterns, stronger and weaker findings, and areas where uncertainty remains.
How long is the tracking period?
The Standard option does not include tracking. For Comprehensive, most families complete brief guided check-ins over several days, often within 2–5 days. The goal is not long-term logging; the goal is short-term, high-density information across normal routines. The report is based on the submitted information and will identify stronger findings, weaker findings, and areas that remain uncertain.
Can everything be completed from home?
Yes. The assessment is completed remotely through structured intake questions and, for the Comprehensive option, brief guided tracking check-ins.
No appointments or ongoing sessions are required.
What do I receive?
You receive a personalized functional analysis report summarizing key patterns, influential factors, priority opportunities, and areas where information remains uncertain.
View the Comprehensive sample report.
What happens after I receive the report?
The report helps clarify priorities and opportunities for further investigation.
Some families use the findings independently. Others share them with healthcare providers or use them to guide future decisions.
There is no ongoing commitment required.