Tourette Syndrome
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Summary
If you have Tourette syndrome, you make unusual movements or sounds, called tics. You have little or no control over them. Common tics are throat-clearing and blinking. You may repeat words, spin, or, rarely, blurt out swear words.
Tourette syndrome is a disorder of the nervous system. It often occurs with other problems, such as
- Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
- Anxiety
- Depression
The cause of Tourette syndrome is unknown. It is more common in boys than girls. The tics usually start in childhood and may be worst in the early teens. Many people eventually outgrow them.
No treatment is needed unless the tics interfere with everyday life. Excitement or worry can make tics worse. Calm, focused activities may make them better. Medicines and talk therapy may also help.
NIH: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
- Facts about Tourette Syndrome (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
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Tourette Syndrome
(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)
- Short Summary
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Tourette Syndrome
(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)
Also in Spanish
Diagnosis and Tests
- Diagnosing Tic Disorders (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Also in Spanish
Treatments and Therapies
- Tourette Syndrome (TS): Treatments (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Also in Spanish
Living With
- 8 Ways to Deal with Ticcing in Public (Tourette Association of America) Also in Spanish
- Exercise, Sports and Tourette Syndrome (Tourette Association of America)
- Tourette Syndrome: Help Stop Bullying (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Also in Spanish
Related Issues
- Stuttering and Tourette's Syndrome (Stuttering Foundation of America) Also in Spanish
- Tourette Syndrome (TS): Other Concerns and Conditions (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Also in Spanish
- Tourette Syndrome (TS): Risk Factors and Causes (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Also in Spanish
Genetics
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Genetics Home Reference: Tourette syndrome
(National Library of Medicine)
Statistics and Research
- Tourette Syndrome (TS): Data and Statistics (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
Clinical Trials
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Tourette Syndrome
(National Institutes of Health)
Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
Find an Expert
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National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
Also in Spanish
- Tourette Association Chapters (Tourette Association of America)
Children
- Kids' Quest: Tourette (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
- Tics and Tourette Syndrome (American Academy of Family Physicians) Also in Spanish
- Tics, Tourette Syndrome, and OCD (American Academy of Pediatrics)
- Tourette Syndrome (Nemours Foundation)
- Tourette Syndrome (For Parents) (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
Teenagers
- Tourette Syndrome (Nemours Foundation)
Adults
- Later in Life (Tourette Association of America)
Patient Handouts
- Tourette syndrome (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish