Filed under: Children's Health Tourette (too-RET) syndrome is a
nervous system (neurological) disorder that starts in childhood.
It involves unusual repetitive movements or unwanted sounds that
can't be controlled (tics). For instance, you may repeatedly
blink your eyes, shrug your shoulders or jerk your head. In some
cases, you might unintentionally blurt out offensive words.
Signs and symptoms of Tourette syndrome typically show up
between ages 2 and 12, with the average being around 7 years of
age. Males are about three to four times more likely than
females to develop Tourette syndrome. Although there's no cure,
you can live a normal life span with Tourette syndrome, and many
people with Tourette syndrome don't need treatment when symptoms
aren't troublesome. Symptoms of Tourette syndrome often lessen
or become quiet and controlled after the teen years. Want to
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