Tourette's Tics

Tics are repeated, involuntary movements or vocal sounds. Facial and motor tics may include eye blinking, head movements, stomping or sudden arm movements. Vocal tics may involve repetition of certain words or phrases, or the occasional utterance of unusual noises. Other tics may include throat clearing, coughing, shouting or sniffing.

In some cases, these tics can involve inappropriate or obscene words and phrases. These tics are known as coprolalia. It's a common misconception that Tourette's syndrome is defined by coprolalia — in reality, less than 15% of those with Tourette's have tics that involve swearing or otherwise inappropriate language. This misconception is usually carried by (a), the fact that these symptoms are fairly obvious where they exist; and (b), several films portray Tourette's in this manner, with characters who suffer from coprolalia, but no other Tourette's symptoms.

But not all tics are inappropriate, or even annoying. Many of them are largely unnoticeable, while others are visible yet subtle, or even charming.

Tics are not always consistent. Those with Tourette's Syndrome often change tics — someone may have a certain particular tic for most of their life, while other tics may only last for a few days or weeks. Tics are sometimes aggravated by stress, or can disappear for weeks at a time.

Suppression of Tics

Generally, someone with Tourette's can suppress his or her tics for short periods of time, but doing so is a little like trying to hold back a sneeze, or a hiccup. It's possible to temporarily hold back a tic, but eventually, they'll resurface. In the same way that stressful situations can aggravate tics, relaxation or concentration on other things can relax them. When asleep, most people with Tourette's exhibit very few tics, or perhaps no tics at all.

Types of Tic

Generally there are two main types of tic: simple tics and complex tics:

Simple tics

Simple tics include most small vocal noises, facial tics and rapid or sudden movements. They generally just involve a single motion or sound, giving them the "simple" name.

Complex tics

Complex tics involve more than a simple movement. Complex vocal tics may involve repeating words or phrases, and complex motor tics usually involve a series or pattern of movements, often involving touching oneself or others.