Tourette Syndrome or Gilles de la Tourette syndrome (TS) is a neurological disorder which becomes evident in early childhood or adolescence between the ages of 2 and 15. 

Tourette syndrome is defined by multiple motor and vocal tics lasting for more than one year .  Many people have only motor tics or only vocal tics.  The first symptoms usually are involuntary movements (tics) of the face, arms, limbs or trunk.  These tics are frequent, repetitive and rapid.  The most common first symptom is a facial tic (eye blink, nose twitch, grimace), and is replaced or added to by other tics of the neck, trunk, and limbs. 

These involuntary (outside the patient's control) tics may also be complicated, involving the entire body, such as kicking and stamping. Many person report what are described as premonitory urges -- the urge to perform a motor activity. Other symptoms such as touching, repetitive thoughts and movements and compulsions can occur. 

There are also verbal tics.  These verbal tics (vocalizations) usually occur with the movements; later they may replace one or more motor tics.  These vocalizations include grunting, throat clearing, shouting and barking.  The verbal tics may also be expressed as coprolalia (the involuntary use of obscene words or socially inappropriate words and phrases) or copropraxia (obscene gestures). Despite widespread publicity, coprolalia/copropraxia is uncommon with tic disorders. These may also include repeating a word of others (echolalia), repeating ones own words (palilalia), and repeating movements of others. 

Although the symptoms of TS vary from person to person and range from very mild to severe, the majority of cases fall into the mild category. Associated conditions can include attention problems (ADHD/ADD, impulsiveness and oppositional defiant disorder), obsessive compulsive behavior, and learning disabilities.  There is usually a family history of tics, Tourette Syndrome, ADHD, or OCD.  Tourette Syndrome and other tic disorders occur in all ethnic groups.  Males are affected 3 to 4 times more often than females.

Most people with TS and other tic disorders will lead productive lives.  There are no barriers to achievement in their personal and professional lives.  Person with TS can be found in all professions. Education of both patients and the public will increase public understanding and tolerance symptoms. This is of utmost importance to people with Tourette Syndrome.