Tourettes syndrome: the development of tics that are persistent for over a year

Tics: involuntary movements or sounds performed repetitively throughout the day

• These tics become more prominent when the person is under pressure or excited.
• The person may describe an overwhelming urge to perform the tic.
• This urge increases the more they suppress it. They feel they need to complete the tic, often several times, to get relief from that urge. These feelings are called premonitory sensations.
• Tics often present around or after 5 years of age. They can be associated with  OCD  and ADHD.

Examples of simple tics:

• Clearing throat
• Blinking
• Head jerking
• Sniffing
• Grunting
• Eye rolling

Examples of complex tics:

• Performing physical movements, such as twirling on the spot or touching objects
• Copropraxia involves making obscene gestures
• Coprolalia involves saying obscene words
• Echolalia involves repeating other people’s words