Disease: Tourette Syndrome
Symptoms: Tics — sudden, brief, intermittent movements or sounds — are the hallmark sign of Tourette syndrome. They can range from mild to severe. Severe symptoms might significantly interfere with communication, daily functioning and quality of life. Tics are classified as:  Simple tics. These sudden, brief and repetitive tics involve a limited number of muscle groups. Complex tics. These distinct, coordinated patterns of movements involve several muscle groups.  Tics can also involve movement (motor tics) or sounds (vocal tics). Motor tics usually begin before vocal tics do. But the spectrum of tics that people experience is diverse.  Common motor tics seen in Tourette syndrome   Simple tics Complex tics     Eye blinking Touching or smelling objects   Head jerking Repeating observed movements   Shoulder shrugging Stepping in a certain pattern   Eye darting Obscene gesturing   Nose twitching Bending or twisting   Mouth movements Hopping    Common motor tics seen in Tourette syndrome   Simple tics Complex tics    Simple tics Complex tics  Simple tics Complex tics   Eye blinking Touching or smelling objects   Head jerking Repeating observed movements   Shoulder shrugging Stepping in a certain pattern   Eye darting Obscene gesturing   Nose twitching Bending or twisting   Mouth movements Hopping    Eye blinking Touching or smelling objects  Eye blinking Touching or smelling objects  Head jerking Repeating observed movements  Head jerking Repeating observed movements  Shoulder shrugging Stepping in a certain pattern  Shoulder shrugging Stepping in a certain pattern  Eye darting Obscene gesturing  Eye darting Obscene gesturing  Nose twitching Bending or twisting  Nose twitching Bending or twisting  Mouth movements Hopping  Mouth movements Hopping  Common vocal tics seen in Tourette syndrome   Simple tics Complex tics     Grunting Repeating one's own words or phrases   Coughing Repeating others' words or phrases   Throat clearing Using vulgar, obscene or swear words   Barking     Common vocal tics seen in Tourette syndrome   Simple tics Complex tics    Simple tics Complex tics  Simple tics Complex tics   Grunting Repeating one's own words or phrases   Coughing Repeating others' words or phrases   Throat clearing Using vulgar, obscene or swear words   Barking     Grunting Repeating one's own words or phrases  Grunting Repeating one's own words or phrases  Coughing Repeating others' words or phrases  Coughing Repeating others' words or phrases  Throat clearing Using vulgar, obscene or swear words  Throat clearing Using vulgar, obscene or swear words  Barking   Barking  In addition, tics can:  Vary in type, frequency and severity Worsen if you're ill, stressed, anxious, tired or excited Occur during sleep Change over time Worsen in the early teenage years and improve during the transition into adulthood  Before the onset of motor or vocal tics, you'll likely experience an uncomfortable bodily sensation (premonitory urge) such as an itch, a tingle or tension. Expression of the tic brings relief. With great effort, some people with Tourette syndrome can temporarily stop or hold back a tic.