What is Tourette’s Disorder?

Tourette’s disorder is the most well-known of a larger group of four tic disorders, with “tics” defined here as sudden, rapid, recurrent, nonrhythmic motor movements or vocalizations. In Tourette’s disorder, multiple motor tics and at least one vocal tic are displayed, although not necessarily at the same time.

Tics in Tourette’s disorder are classified as simple or complex. Simple tics include eye blinking, shoulder shrugging, throat clearing, and grunting, among others, and can be easy to miss. Complex motor tics include actions such as simultaneous head turning and shoulder shrugging or other movements that can appear purposeful or even inappropriate. Complex vocal tics include repeating one’s own sounds or words, or the words of others. Some individuals may say inappropriate or socially unacceptable phrases, or make sharp, barking-like sounds.

The tics exhibited in Tourette’s disorder tend to wax and wane over time. The disorder is usually first evident at around 4 to 6 years of age, and typically is at its worst severity between the ages of 10 and 12, with symptoms generally improving during adolescence and adulthood. For most, tics are worse when they are anxious, excited, stressed, or fatigued. Many persons with Tourette’s disorder also have ADHD and/or obsessive-compulsive disorder, and these other conditions may actually cause more functional impairment than Tourette’s alone.