Symptoms

Symptoms of Tourette Syndrome

To receive a Tourette syndrome diagnosis, you must:

  • Have more than 2 motor tics
  • At least 1 vocal tic that lasts for a year
  • Symptoms that start before age 18

Tics are unique for each person. They may be different in severity, frequency (how often you get them) or type. Tics can get worse if you are stressed, tired, anxious, excited or sick. Tics can improve for a bit and then get worse. They sometimes improve before young adulthood and get worse during teenage years.

Common motor tics:

  • Eye blinking or eye movement
  • Head or shoulder movements
  • Neck jerking
  • Face twitching
  • Touching objects or people
  • Walking in a certain pattern
  • Repeating movements that other people do

Common vocal tics:

  • Making a noise like a grunt or bark
  • Throat clearing
  • Coughing
  • Saying a word
  • Saying a phrase or sentence