Tourette Syndrome (TS) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects children, adolescents, and adults. It is characterized by sudden, involuntary movements and/or sounds called tics. Tics are sudden twitches, movements, or sounds that people do repeatedly. People who have tics cannot stop their body from doing these things, and having tics is a little bit like having hiccups. There are two types of tics: motor and vocal. Motor tics are movements of the body, such as blinking, shrugging the shoulders, or jerking an arm, while vocal tics are sounds that a person makes with his or her voice, such as humming, clearing the throat, or yelling out a word or phrase. Tics can be either simple or complex. Simple tics involve just a few parts of the body, while complex tics usually involve several different parts of the body and can have a pattern. Depending on the type of tics a person has and how long the tics last, a person might be diagnosed with Tourette syndrome or another type of tic disorder.

The exact cause of Tourette syndrome is not known, but it is a complex disorder likely caused by a combination of inherited (genetic) and environmental factors. Chemicals in the brain that transmit nerve impulses (neurotransmitters), including dopamine and serotonin, might play a role. Tourette syndrome affects more boys than girls, and most people with TS experience their worst tic symptoms in their early teens, but tics typically lessen and become controlled by the late teens to early 20s. For some people, TS can be a chronic condition with symptoms that last into adulthood.

Tourette syndrome is diagnosed based on the presence of tics. There is no single test for Tourettes syndrome, but tests and scans, such as an MRI scan, may be used to rule out other conditions. A person can be diagnosed with Tourettes syndrome if they have had several tics for at least a year. Although there is no cure for Tourette syndrome, treatments are available, and many people with Tourette syndrome dont need treatment when symptoms arent troublesome. Tics often lessen or become controlled after the teen years.