Tourette Syndrome

Tourette syndrome is a condition that causes sudden, repeated movements or sounds called tics. Mary Bridge Children’s offers expert care and personalized support for children with Tourette syndrome, including medical management, referrals to behavioral specialists and assistance with school accommodations.

Tourette syndrome symptoms and diagnosis

Pediatric neurologists diagnose Tourette syndrome by observing symptoms, which usually begin between 5 to 10 years of age. The main symptom of Tourette syndrome is tics, which can take the form of either motor tics or vocal tics.

• Motor tics are body movements such as jerking the arm, shrugging or squinting.
• Vocal tics are noises such as yelling out, throat-clearing or humming.

Tics can also be simple or complex. A simple tic affects only a few areas of the body, while complex tics can include a pattern involving multiple parts of the body. Symptoms of Tourette syndrome can come and go during a person’s lifetime.

Eighty-six percent of children with Tourette syndrome have another mental or developmental disorder such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). For this reason, it is especially important to receive evaluation from a professional trained in diagnosing neurological conditions.

Comprehensive Tourette syndrome treatment and services

For many children with Tourette syndrome, tics do not require treatment because they do not interfere with everyday life. When tics are painful, cause injury or affect daily functioning or stress levels, medication and behavioral therapy can help.

Our team of experts provides treatment and services that include:

Medication management. Specialists will work with you to find the right medication for your child. Options can include Tenex (guanfacine), Catapres® (clonidine) and TOPAMAX® (topiramate).

Behavioral resources. We connect you with mental health professionals who provide behavioral therapy to reduce tics.

Care coordination. Our nurse navigators can help coordinate care, manage school issues and direct you to Tourette syndrome resources. The complex care team also helps streamline treatment for children with severe conditions.