Tourette syndrome

Many children develop tics – sudden, repetitive movements or sounds such as head twitching or barking. Tics that don’t go away might indicate Tourette syndrome, and we can help.

Our pediatric neurologists have the experience and training to help your child control tics, with specialized cognitive behavioral therapy and other treatments.

What is Tourette syndrome?

Tourette syndrome is a neurological condition that involves sudden, repeated, involuntary sounds and movements known as tics. While children ages 2 through 15 occasionally develop tics, they usually go away after a few weeks or months. For a diagnosis of Tourette syndrome, a child must have both sound (vocal) and movement (motor) tics for at least a year.

What causes Tourette syndrome?

The causes of Tourette syndrome aren’t fully known. Because the condition can run in families, it’s likely that inherited genetic changes play a role. Some research has also pointed to certain environmental factors during pregnancy, including:

• Health complications
• Low birthweight
• Smoking

Tourette syndrome symptoms and signs

Tics are the main symptom of Tourette syndrome. They can range from mild and barely noticeable to severe and disruptive. The two categories of tics are:

• Simple: Sudden, brief tics involving only a few muscle groups
• Complex: Coordinated patterns of tics combined with actions from several muscle groups

Examples of tics include:

• Motor: Simple motor tics include blinking, head jerking or shoulder shrugging. Complex motor tics include touching objects, jumping or stepping in a certain pattern.
• Vocal: Simple vocal tics include grunting, snorting or throat-clearing. Complex vocal tics include repeating others’ words or using profanity.

Tourette syndrome diagnosis

Specialists in our neurology program have experience evaluating children with tics and diagnosing Tourette syndrome. We confirm a diagnosis based on the signs and symptoms, since there are no tests or scans to diagnose Tourette syndrome.

During the evaluation, the neurologist asks about your child’s symptoms and medical history, including any developmental conditions. Some conditions that can occur along with Tourette syndrome include:

• Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
• Autism spectrum disorder
• Developmental delays
• Learning disabilities
• Mood disorders such as anxiety or depression
• Some behavioral disorders

The criteria for diagnosing Tourette syndrome include:

• Two or more motor tics and at least one vocal tic, but not necessarily at the same time
• Tics that have continued for at least one year, but not necessarily every day
• Tics that began before age 18
• Symptoms that are not caused by medications, other substances or health conditions

Tourette syndrome treatment

Treatment helps control tics that are severe enough to interfere with a child’s life, so some children may not even need treatment. Our neurologists work with you to customize a treatment plan for your child, using one or more treatment options:

• Medications for Tourette syndrome: Several types of medications can minimize tics and improve your child’s symptoms. We work closely with your family to make sure medications are helping, adjusting the type and dosage as needed.
• Therapy for Tourette syndrome: Our comprehensive behavioral interventions for tics (CBIT) therapy includes tic awareness, stress management, environmental modifications, and biofeedback and relaxation techniques.