Tourette Syndrome

Tourette syndrome frequently involves behavioral and social challenges that can harm your self-image.

Conditions often associated with Tourette syndrome include:

• Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
• Autism spectrum disorder
• Learning disabilities
• Sleep disorders
• Depression
• Anxiety disorders
• Pain related to tics, especially headaches
• Anger-management problems

The exact cause of Tourette syndrome isn’t known. It’s a complex disorder likely caused by a combination of inherited (genetic) and environmental factors. Chemicals in the brain that transmit nerve impulses (neurotransmitters), including dopamine and serotonin, might play a role.

Risk factors for Tourette syndrome include:

• Family history. Having a family history of Tourette syndrome or other tic disorders might increase the risk of developing Tourette syndrome.
• Sex. Males are about three to four times more likely than females to develop Tourette syndrome.

There are two types of tics—motor and vocal.

Motor Tics

Motor tics are movements of the body. Examples of motor tics include blinking, shrugging the shoulders, or jerking an arm.

Vocal Tics

Vocal tics are sounds that a person makes with his or her voice. Examples of vocal tics include humming, clearing the throat, or yelling out a word or phrase.

Tics can be either simple or complex:

Simple Tics

Simple tics involve just a few parts of the body. Examples of simple tics include squinting the eyes or sniffing.

Complex Tics

Complex tics usually involve several different parts of the body and can have a pattern. An example of a complex tic is bobbing the head while jerking an arm, and then jumping up.

Tics are the main symptom of Tourette’s syndrome. They usually appear in childhood between the ages of 2 and 14 (around 6 years is the average).

People with Tourette’s syndrome have a combination of physical and vocal tics.

Examples of physical tics include:

• blinking
• eye rolling
• grimacing
• shoulder shrugging
• jerking of the head or limbs
• jumping
• twirling
• touching objects and other people

Examples of vocal tics include:

• grunting
• throat clearing
• whistling
• coughing
• tongue clicking
• animal sounds
• saying random words and phrases
• repeating a sound, word or phrase
• swearing

Tics are not usually harmful to a person’s overall health, but physical tics, such as jerking of the head, can be painful.

Tics can be worse on some days than others. They may be worse during periods of:

• stress
• anxiety
• tiredness

There’s no single test for Tourette’s syndrome. Tests and scans, such as an MRI scan, may be used to rule out other conditions.

You can be diagnosed with Tourette’s syndrome if you’ve had several tics for at least a year.

Getting a firm diagnosis can help you and others understand your condition better, and give you access to the right kind of treatment and support.

To get a diagnosis you should consult a neurologist, a doctor that specialises in brain and nervous system diseases.