Worldwide, up to 1% of children have Tourette’s syndrome,4 which is 2–4 times more common in boys than in girls.3 Tics typically emerge between 2 and 14 years of age1 but are most severe between 10 and 12 years of age with a decline in severity during adolescence.3
Tics can cause embarrassment, low self-esteem, and can lead to social isolation and in some cases may result in conflict with others, and even pain and injury (e.g., from scratching oneself or neck jerks).5 In addition to tics, people with Tourette’s syndrome may be unusually sensitive to touch (e.g., to clothing tags or tight socks), have behavioural problems, and suffer from disrupted sleep, which can have a major impact on their quality of life.6
A study in 2015 showed that 86% of people (n=1,374) with Tourette’s syndrome also had a psychiatric disorder. The most commonly present (in 72% of patients), was attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD).7 Often, the psychiatric disorder is more problematic for the person than the tics.8
Children with Tourette’s syndrome, particularly those with severe symptoms and those with co-occurring disorders, are likely to have problems at school, and to need educational help.2