Overview

Tourette Syndrome

Tourette syndrome is a neurological disorder. It causes tics. Tics are sudden purposeless movements or vocalizations. It is a type of tic disorder. Tics vary in severity. They can be different for each patient. The 2 types of tics are motor tics and vocal tics.

Motor tics can impact any part of the body. They can be simple or complex.

  • Simple tics use 1 muscle group
  • Complex tics use more than 1 muscle group

Motor tics include:

  • Moving the head and shoulders
  • Blinking
  • Banging on surfaces
  • Snapping fingers
  • Touching objects or people

Vocal tics include:

  • Making noises
  • Throat clearing
  • Saying words or sentences

Patients with Tourette syndrome will have at least 2 motor tics and at least 1 vocal tic that lasts for more than a year. It usually starts before the age of 18.

People with Tourette syndrome may also have:

  • Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
  • Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
  • Learning difficulties
  • Sleep disorders