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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
- About Tourette Syndrome (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Also in Spanish
-
Tourette Syndrome
(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)
Diagnosis and Tests
- Diagnosis for Tic Disorders (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
Prevention and Risk Factors
- Risk Factors (For Tourette Syndrome) (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
Treatments and Therapies
- Treatment of Tourette Syndrome (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)
Related Issues
- Other Concerns and Conditions of Tourette Syndrome (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Also in Spanish
- Stuttering and Tourette's Syndrome (Stuttering Foundation of America) Also in Spanish
Genetics
-
Tourette syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics
(National Library of Medicine)
Statistics and Research
- Data and Statistics on Tourette Syndrome (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
Clinical Trials
-
ClinicalTrials.gov: Tourette Syndrome
(National Institutes of Health)
Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
Find an Expert
Children
- Tics and Tourette Syndrome (American Academy of Family Physicians) Also in Spanish
- Tourette Syndrome in Children (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
- Tourette Syndrome: A Not-So-Frightening Diagnosis (American Academy of Pediatrics)
Adults
- Later in Life (Tourette Association of America)
Patient Handouts
- Tourette syndrome (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
The information on this site should not be used as a substitute for professional medical care or advice. Contact a health care provider if you have questions about your health.