Developmental Disabilities> Tourette's Disorder and Other Tic Disorders

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NYU Child Study Center: TD

A person with Tourette’s Disorder (TD) has involuntary motor and vocal tics.  A tic is a rapid, repeated twitch that produces a quick, sudden movement.  A vocal tic is a sound made involuntarily.  Tics may involve different parts of the body, the most common motor tics are blinking, shrugging, grimacing and nose twitching.  Vocal tics may include meaningless sounds and noises, including grunting, tongue clicking, hooting and throat clearing.  TD is thought to be due to genetic facts and faulty brain chemistry. Tourette’s occurs in approximately four to five individuals per 10,000.  It can occur in people with a wide range of racial ethnic backgrounds, and is about one to three times more common in males than in females.  The onset may be as early as 2 years of age, but usually occurs during childhood or early adolescence and by definition before 18 years of age.  Children with TD are usually of normal intelligence and most do not have primary learning disabilities.  It is estimated that 20 to 30 % of all children with TD outgrow the disorder in their teens or early twenties.