What Is Tourette’s Syndrome
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What Is Tourette’s Syndrome ❓
Tourette’s Syndrome (TS) is a neurological condition that causes a person to make involuntary sounds and movements, known as tics. These tics can be:
● Motor tics – like blinking, facial twitches, or jerking movements.
● Vocal tics – like coughing, throat clearing, words, or other noises
Tics come and go over time and can change in type, frequency, or intensity.
Just like autism and ADHD, Tourette’s is a spectrum condition. This means it can look very different from person to person. Some people have mild tics that don’t affect daily life much. Others may have more noticeable or disruptive tics, which can be painful, exhausting, or socially challenging. This spectrum can change over a lifetime, or even day to day depending on a number of factors.
Tics often begin in childhood (between ages 5–10) and may peak during adolescence. For some, they reduce in adulthood; for others, they persist lifelong. They are very influenced by certain triggers which will often be different for everyone such as anxiety, sensory sensitivities, strong emotions, illness, lack of sleep, high stress.
For a diagnosis of Tourettes, it requires both motor and vocal tics lasting at least one year in length.
How Tourette’s May Present in Children and Adults In Children and Adults
● Sudden repetitive movements (blinking, head jerks, shoulder shrugs)
● Repeating words or sounds
● Uncontrollable urges to move or make noises
● Tics often worsen with stress or excitement
● Tics often have a premonitory urge - a sensation or build up of tension that preces the need to tic. This tic can be suppressed for a short time, but often comes out more severely later due to the exhaustion of suppression.
● Pain and chronic fatigue
● Co-occuring neurodivergence and mental health conditions - ADHD and Autism, anxiety, depression
Did you know swearing only occurs in approximately 10% of cases and its name is coprolalia? Many people with Tourettes do not have this particular symptom.
Tourettes can be hidden and cause chronic pain due to years of tics, especially for those with severe tics, repetitive tics and late diagnosed adults who havent had suppport all their lives with their condition.
Transient vs. Chronic Tics
Some children experience transient tics—temporary tics that last a few weeks or months, often triggered by stress or developmental changes. These are not Tourette’s, which requires both motor and vocal tics lasting at least one year.
Tourette’s vs. FND
FND (Functional Neurological Disorder) also causes movement or vocal changes, but the cause is different. While Tourette’s is neurological (brain-based and involuntary), FND is related to the nervous system’s functional communication—often influenced by trauma or psychological factors, overstimulation or unmet neurodivergent needs.
Tics in FND may appear similar but usually start suddenly in teens or adulthood, may not follow the typical tic pattern, and can be linked to emotional distress. It is often more severe, sudden and unpredictable and comes with other neurological symptoms such as non epileptic seisures or tremors. If you’re unsure, it’s important to consult a neurologist or specialist in tic disorders.
How Tourette Syndrome Is Diagnosed in the UK
Tourette’s Diagnosis in Children
NHS Pathway
In the UK, children showing signs of tics are usually referred by a GP, teacher, or school nurse to a specialist—often a paediatrician, neurologist, or Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS).
Diagnosis is clinical and based on NICE guidelines, which require:
At least two motor tics and one vocal tic,
Present for 12 months or more,
Onset before age 18.
The process involves interviews with parents/carers, observation of tics, and ruling out other conditions like autism or ADHD (which often co-occur). No brain scans or blood tests are needed.
Private Assessment for Children
Private routes offer quicker access to specialist assessments. A child neurologist or neurodevelopmental specialist will review the child’s history, observe tics, and use clinical criteria to confirm a diagnosis. Private providers usually offer full reports for schools and GPs, and may also recommend therapy or behavioural support.
Tourette’s Diagnosis in Adults
NHS Pathway
Adults with tic symptoms usually begin with their GP, who may refer to a neurologist or adult psychiatrist with experience in movement disorders or neurodevelopmental conditions.
Diagnosis is based on:
Personal and childhood history of tics,
Clinical observation,
Duration and type of tics.
Since many adults were undiagnosed as children, assessments may include questions about symptoms going back to early life.
Private Assessment for Adults
Private clinics provide faster assessments with experienced consultants. A detailed history is taken, and diagnostic criteria are applied based on observed and reported symptoms. Reports often include treatment recommendations such as CBIT (Comprehensive Behavioral Intervention for Tics), medications, or referrals for co-occurring conditions like OCD or ADHD.
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Strengths & Challenges of Tourette’s
Challenges:
● Fatigue from suppressing tics
● Pain or injury from physical tics
● Misunderstanding or stigma
● Emotional regulation difficulties
● Co-occuring neurodivergence making tics harder to manage.
Strengths:
● High levels of empathy and emotional intelligence
● Creativity and quick thinking
● Deep focus on personal interests
● Strong problem-solving under pressure
The “Tourette’s Trio”: TS, ADHD & Autism
Understanding the full neurotype helps avoid misdiagnosis and improves treatment and support. There is a huge lack of services for those with dual neurotypes, and very limited services for individuals and children with the ‘The Tourettes Trio’. With this often comes OCD,
Tourettic OCD, trauma and other mental health challenges, especially without support and understanding of the condition and ways to help manage this.
Some people have all three conditions—Tourette’s, ADHD, and Autism. The Tourette’s Trio.
Each condition influences the others:
● Autism: May increase sensory overload, rigid thinking, or difficulty masking tics. Craves predictability to be able to regulate and sensory friendly environments
● ADHD: May add impulsivity, distractibility, or hyperactivity to tic expression. Craves novelty, making predictability and following routines difficult.
● Tourette’s: May be more intense or more socially challenging when combined with both and highly influenced by hyperactive thinking, anxiety from sensory challenges and unnmet autistic needs.
This neurotype can:
● Increase impulsive behavior or risk-taking
● Make tics more difficult to manage due to restlessness, hyperactivity (internal and external), impulsivity, sleep challenges, higher anxiety/ racing brain.
● Complicate attention and focus in school or work
● Create emotional ups and downs that are hard to regulate.