Tourette Syndrome (TS) is a neurological disorder characterized by involuntary movements and vocalizations referred to as tics.  Examples of motor tics include eye blinking, shoulder shrugging, facial twitching, and grimacing.  Vocal tics include throat clearing, sniffing, barking, and repeating words or sounds.

These and other symptoms typically appear before the age of 18, and the condition occurs in all ethnic groups and both genders.  The symptoms of TS vary from person to person and range from very mild to severe.  In addition, most people with TS will experience varying symptoms in varying degrees throughout their lifetimes.

Diagnosis is made by observing symptoms and evaluating their onset.  While no definite cause has been established, genetic studies indicate that TS is an inherited disorder.  Although there are medical treatments that can help alleviate some TS symptoms, there is, as yet, no cure.

TS is often, but not always, associated with other disorders, including:

• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD): A disorder involving persistent images, thoughts, ideas, or feelings and/or repetitive ritualistic behavior that can interfere with daily life.

• Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD): A disorder that begins early in life and is characterized by inattention, distractibility, impulsivity, and disorganization.

• Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (AD/HD): A disorder that includes the symptoms of ADD, but also involves hyperactive behavior.

• Learning Disabilities (LD): A variety of difficulties in reading, writing, mathematics, processing, and/or perceptual areas.

The disorder was named for Georges Gilles de la Tourette, a French neuropsychiatrist who successfully assessed the disorder in the late 1800s.