Tourette Syndrome (TS) is a neurological condition characterized by involuntary movements and vocalizations known as tics. You may be familiar with TS from television characters who suddenly shout obscenities or other inappropriate remarks. This unusual behavior, called coprolalia, actually occurs only in rare cases, probably in less than 10 percent of people with TS. The mix, frequency and severity of tics fall along a wide spectrum. Depending on their intensity and number, they can be emotionally upsetting and socially stigmatizing. In most cases, however, TS symptoms are mild and require little or no treatment.
TS affects at least 100,000 Americans, though many cases go undiagnosed, so the actual number may be much higher. The syndrome emerges in childhood, usually between ages 6 and 10. It is three to four times more common in boys than girls and affects people from all racial and ethnic groups. Often TS coexists with other conditions, such as attention deficit disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, impulse-control problems and learning disabilities. In some cases, these associated conditions can create more problems for those affected than their tics alone. Early diagnosis (and treatment, when needed) are important in all suspected TS cases, but particularly in cases accompanied by other conditions. TS patients have normal intelligence and can expect to live a full lifespan. For many, symptoms subside in late adolescence, and in some cases disappear entirely.
Simple motor and vocal tics:
Eye blinking
Head jerking
Shoulder shrugging
Grimacing
Throat clearing
Yelping
Sniffing
Tongue clicking
Complex motor and vocal tics:
Jumping
Inappropriate touching of other people or objects
Smelling
Twirling about
Uttering words or phrases out of context
Repeating short phrases, such as “oh boy” or “all right”
Constantly repeating words of other people (called echolalia)
Vocalizing socially unacceptable words (coprolalia)
Hitting or biting oneself (rare)
You may consider seeking help from:
Tourette Syndrome Association, Inc.
The Web site of this national organization includes basic information about TS, including answers to frequently asked questions and common myths and facts, as well as contact info for local organization chapters, full text of several TSA publications and info about ordering publications and videos from the association's catalog.
