Alexander Center > Common Conditions > Tourette's syndrome

Common conditions

This section includes conditions that can be evaluated and treated by Alexander Center professionals.

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Tourette’s syndrome

Tourette’s syndrome is a chronic (long-term), not transient (short-term, less than 12 months), tic disorder.

Tourette’s has both muscle-related and vocal tics. Tics stop and are replaced by different tics throughout the course of Tourette’s. Like all tic disorders, Tourette’s can worsen with anxiety, stress or tiredness.

Tics in Tourette’s are classified as simple or complex.

Simple tics include:

• repetitive throat clearing
• rapid eye blinking
• jerking
• muscle tensing
• yelling
• coughing

Complex tics can be difficult to identify, but may include:

• obscene language
• talking to self
• repeating words or phrases
• grimacing

Tests, treatment

See tic disorders