Tourette Syndrome and Who It Affects

Early Tourette syndrome symptoms are almost always noticed first in childhood, with the average age of onset occurring between the ages of 7 and 10. Tourette syndrome occurs in people from all ethnic groups; males are affected about three to four times more often than females.

 

It is estimated that 200,000 Americans have the most severe form of Tourette syndrome, and as many as 1 in 100 exhibit milder and less complex symptoms of Tourette syndrome, such as chronic motor or vocal tics, as well as transient tics of childhood. Although Tourette syndrome can be a chronic condition with symptoms lasting a lifetime, most people experience their worst symptoms in their early teens, with improvement occurring in the late teens and continuing into adulthood.