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Yashoda Hospitals > Diseases & Treatments > Neurology & Neurosurgery > Tourette Syndrome

Tourette Syndrome

Causes, Symptoms, Treatment Options

What is Tourette Syndrome?

Tourette’s syndrome is a neurological disorder that commonly affects children and is characterized by tics, which are abrupt, repetitive movements and sounds. These tics can be simple or complex, involving a small group of muscle groups that cause abrupt, repetitive tics or a large group of muscle groups that cause distinct, coordinated movements.  Children begin to exhibit these symptoms between the ages of 2 and 15, and although it is believed that there is no cure for tics, some people get better or feel less bothered as they get older or move from teenage to adulthood and may not need treatment. Tourette syndrome is more likely to be seen in boys than in girls. 

Tourette Syndrome

What are the causes of Tourette's Syndrome?

Although the exact cause of Tourette’s syndrome is still unknown, it is thought to be inherited, as many neurological disorders have a family history. Additionally, some research suggests that tics may result from abnormalities in neurotransmitters, which are messengers in the brain that aid in regulating behavior and movement. Examples of these neurotransmitters include serotonin and dopamine.

What are the symptoms of Tourette Syndrome?

Because they typically feel a slight sensation before these abnormal tics, people with Tourette’s syndrome attempt to stop the strange sounds or movements. However, these movements are involuntary or uncontrollable, which causes disappointment, emotional distress, and embarrassment. 

The following are examples of the motor and vocal tics that a child with Tourette syndrome experiences:

Motor tics: 

These can be further simple motor tics, which affect a part of your body, & complex tics, which involve multiple body parts.

Symptoms of simple motor tics include :

  • Blinking of the eyes
  • Nose twitching
  • Jerky head movements
  • Shoulder shrugging.
  • A frowny face
  • Mouth movements.

Symptoms of complex motor tics include :

  • Self-slapping, 
  • Hopping,
  • Jumping, 
  • Smelling or touching objects, 
  • Imitating someone else’s actions,
  • Bending or twisting the body

Simple vocal tics symptoms: 

  • Humming, 
  • Clearing one’s throat,
  • Sniffing,  
  • Coughing, or
  • Clicking one’s tongue

Complex Vocal  tics symptoms:

  • Repeatedly saying words that are unpleasant to hear
  • Repeating the words of others
  • Constantly saying the same phrases.

What is the treatment for Tourette Syndrome?

It is well known that people with Tourette’s may also have other symptoms, such as trouble focusing at work, because Tourette’s can sometimes be associated with other conditions like ADHD, OCD, depression, and anxiety. As they grow older, the majority of children with Tourette’s syndrome get better, but some have severe tics and other additional symptoms that require early medication therapy to address.

Dopamine-blocking medications like haloperidol, risperidone (Risperdal), and pimozide, which are frequently prescribed for other illnesses, are used to treat tics because they are thought to alleviate Tourette’s symptoms by reducing the high levels of dopamine that affect the behavioral pattern in them.

  • Antidepressants such as fluoxetine can be prescribed to improve any symptoms associated with anxiety & obsessive-compulsive disorder.
  • Botox injections administered to the affected muscles can sometimes help with simple or vocal tics.
  • Dextromethorphan and methylphenidate help people with Tourette’s syndrome and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder by reducing symptoms like hyperactivity and difficulty concentrating.
  • In addition to medication therapy, some programs incorporate behavioral support, also known as cognitive behavioral therapy, which helps people with Tourette’s syndrome manage their tics, or abnormal movements, in a highly supportive way. Additionally, psychotherapy helps in managing symptoms of Tourette’s syndrome and associated conditions such as ADHD, OCD, depression, and anxiety.
  • Finally, deep brain stimulation surgery may be employed for Tourette’s patients whose symptoms worsen and do not get better with medicine & behavioral support.
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FAQ's

    Avoiding stress through a healthy lifestyle, which includes a proper sleep schedule, engaging in yoga or physical activities, and participating in behavioral therapy, can naturally improve tic symptoms in adults.

    A full recovery from Tourette syndrome is uncommon, although some healthy lifestyle choices and treatment approaches might help lessen its symptoms. But some people with Tourette’s may not need treatment, and as they age, their tics may diminish.

    Tics are involuntary and sudden vocalizations or repetitive movements seen in people, typically lasting a few seconds and occurring at intervals of minutes or hours. However, the frequency & duration of these tics vary from one person to another.

    The primary symptoms associated with Tourette’s syndrome are both motor and vocal tics, affecting various parts of the body. However, the three typical symptoms in such individuals include eye blinking, abrupt head movements, and throat clearing.