Twist and bend his or her body Individuals with Tourette syndrome eventually produce uncontrollable sounds. He or she may continuously clear his or her throat, cough, sniff, grunt, bark, or shout. Others may touch other people excessively, or repeat actions obsessively and unnecessarily. Some individuals bite their lips and cheeks, bang their heads and develop other self-destructive behaviors. Individuals with Tourette syndrome can sometimes control tics for a short time, but eventually tension mounts and the tics once again appear.
Tics become worse during periods of stress.
They improve when the individual is not anxious, or is absorbed in an activity. In most instances, tics disappear during sleep. The cause of Tourette syndrome is unknown. Current research has focused on the possibility that a chemical abnormality is involved which affects neurotransmitter systems used by the brain to regulate movement and behavior. Neurotransmitters are chemicals that carry signals from one nerve cell to another in the brain and spinal cord and along the nerves.