Tourette syndrome and tics

What it is

Tourette syndrome is a neurological condition that causes involuntary motor and vocal tics.

How it presents

Motor tics:

• Eye blinking or darting
• Shoulder shrugging
• Head jerking
• Nose twitching
• Lip twitching
• Neck movements
• Swallowing
• Facial grimacing

Vocal tics:

• Sniffing
• Throat clearing
• Grunting
• Barking
• Humming
• Calling out
• Repeating words

A described example is a sociable boy of 9, new to the practice at a health supervision visit, with repeated facial movements, eye blinking and throat clearing. The parents had noted these repetitive mannerisms for more than 1 year and had attributed them to a nervous habit. Vocal and motor tics of this kind are most likely due to Tourette syndrome.