The tics of the tourette syndrome are more complex than the simple blink of an eye. The most complex tics include punching and kicking, grunting and humming, and loud breathing.
Early diagnosis can help parents understand that behaviors are not voluntary or malicious and that they are not controlled by punishment.
Many people with the syndrome develop impulsive, aggressive and self-destructive behaviors, and children often have learning difficulties. Although it is not known if what causes these behaviors is the disorder itself or if it is the great stress of living with the disorder.
A child with tourette syndrome can repeatedly move his head from side to side, blinking his eyes, opening his mouth and extending his neck. Individuals with tourette syndrome may speak obscenities for no apparent reason, often in the middle of a conversation. They can also repeat words immediately after hearing them (echolalia).
Antipsychotic medications may help suppress tics, even if it is not a case of psychosis.
