Tourette syndrome
Overview
Tourette syndrome is a condition that causes you to make sudden, repetitive sounds or movements (tics). There is no cure, but treatment can help manage the tics.
Symptoms
The main symptom of Tourette syndrome is tics. Tics can involve repetitive sounds (vocal tics) or movements (motor tics) you do not choose to make and cannot control. Tics involving sounds may include: whistlingsniffing or clearing your throat a lotmaking animal soundsrepeating a sound, word or phraseswearing (this is rare) Tics involving movement may include: rolling your eyes or blinkingshrugging your shouldersjerking or twitching movementstensing your stomach musclesjumping Tics can be triggered by different things including stress, excitement or tiredness. Symptoms of Tourette syndrome usually start around the age of 6 and can get more noticeable around age 10. Tourette syndrome is more common in boys than girls. Lots of children haveticsat some point, this does not always mean they have Tourette syndrome.
Causes
It's not known what causes Tourette syndrome. You're more likely to have it if your mother or father has it.
Treatment
Tourette syndrome cannot be cured. But if the tics are causing problems for you or your child, treatment may be offered to help manage them. Treatment may include: behavioural therapy to help learn different ways to manage the ticsmedicine if behavioural therapy has not helped The type of medicine you or your child may be offered also depends on if you also have ADHD or OCD. Medicines for Tourette syndrome can cause side effects. Your doctor should discuss these with you. Some people use complementary treatments, including herbs and supplements, however there is little evidence that they help with symptoms of Tourette syndrome.