Tourette Syndrome

  • Tourette syndrome is a neurological disorder characterized by tics – involuntary sudden movements that occur repeatedly in the same way. Tics may occur many times a day or intermittently.
  • Suppressing symptoms of tics may merely postpone a more severe outburst
  • Tics result from stress, anxiety, and fatigue

Facts About Tourette Syndrome (Tourette Syndrome Association)

Tourette Syndrome Info Sheet (Tourette Syndrome Association of New York State)

"10 Things I Wish People Knew About Tourette Syndrome"

Signs & Symptoms:

Motor tics

  • Eye blinking/rolling
  • Facial grimaces/distortions
  • Scratching, clapping, pinching, kicking, stomping
  • Hitting self, mouth stretching, tongue thrusting, abdominal jerking

Vocal tics

  • Throat clearing, coughing, humming
  • Screaming, yelping, barking, moaning
  • Saying words, grunting, sniffing, spitting, snorting 

Associated Conditions:

Associated conditions can include attention problems (ADHD/ADD, impulsiveness and oppositional defiant disorder), obsessive compulsive behavior, and learning disabilities. There is usually a family history of tics, Tourette syndrome, ADHD, and/or OCD.