Tourette Syndrome: What Are the First Signs of Tics? What is the Difference Between Tics and Tourette’s?

The first symptoms of tics are usually uncontrollable eye movements, facial grimacing, shoulder shrugging, head jerking.

These signs occur in the head and neck area, between ages 5 and 10.

What is the Difference Between Tics and Tourette’s?

Tics are “sudden, rapid, recurrent, non-rhythmic motor movements or vocalization, generally preceded by urge.”

Tourette’s syndrome is defined as the “presence of both motor and phonic tics” for more than one year in a person who has symptoms before age 18.

What Is Tourette’s Syndrome?

Tourette syndrome is a neurological condition that happens with involuntary noises and movements called tics (which can be vocal or physical).

Tourette syndrome often occurs in children who grow into adulthood with the condition.

A person with Tourette syndrome is said to have problem with a part of the brain known as the basal ganglia, which helps regulate body movements.

Other symptoms of Tourette’s might include swearing uncontrollably, repetitive body movements, eye twitching, learning disability, stuttering, anxiety, and many more.

Although the exact cause of Tourette Syndrome is unknown, but studies have shown that it is most likely to be genetic.

Chemicals in the brain that transmit nerve impulses, including dopamine and serotonin, might also be an additional cause.

About 78 million people across the world are reportedly affected by this condition that has no cure. However, Tourette can be treated with therapy, self care and medication.