What is Tourette Syndrome?

Tourette Syndrome (TS) is a neurological or "neurochemical" disorder characterized by tics -- involuntary, rapid, sudden movements or vocalizations that occur repeatedly in the same way.

The symptoms include:

1. Both multiple motor and one or more vocal tics present at some time during the illness although not necessarily simultaneously;
2. The occurrence of tics many times a day (usually in bouts) nearly every day or intermittently throughout a span of more than one year;
3. The periodic change in the number, frequency, type and location of the tics, and in the waxing and waning of their severity. Symptoms can even disappear for weeks or months at a time; and
4. Onset before the age of 18.

The term "involuntary" used to describe TS tics is a source of confusion since it is known that most people with TS do have some control over the symptoms. What is recognized is that the control which can be exerted from seconds to hours at a time, may merely postpone more severe outbursts of symptoms. Tics are experienced as irresistible as the urge to sneeze and must eventually be expressed. People with TS often seek a secluded spot to release their symptoms after delaying them in school or at work. Typically, tics increase as a result of tension or stress (but are not caused by stress) and decrease with relaxation or concentration on an absorbing task.

Individuals not only struggle with the condition itself, they must bear the double burden of the stigma attached.

How are tics classified?

Two categories of TS tics and some common examples are:

Simple:

• Motor - Eye blinking, head jerking, shoulder shrugging and facial grimacing;
• Vocal - Throat clearing, yelping and other noises, sniffing and tongue clicking.

Complex:

• Motor - Jumping, touching other people or things, smelling, twirling about and, although very rare, self-injurious actions including hitting or biting oneself;
• Vocal - Uttering ordinary words or phrases out of context, echolalia (repeating a sound, word or phrase just heard) and in rare cases, coprolalia (vocalizing socially unacceptable words). The range of tics or tic-like symptoms that can be seen in TS is enormous. The complexity of some symptoms often confuses family members, friends, teachers and employers who may find it hard to believe that the actions or vocal utterances are "involuntary".

continue: Disorders Associated With Tourettes and Symptom Information

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Reviewed: 03/2006