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Tourette Syndrome
Welcome to the Tourette Syndrome page at the University of Miami’s Division of Movement Disorders. Tourette Syndrome (TS) is a neurological disorder characterized by repetitive, stereotyped, involuntary movements and vocalizations called tics. The onset of TS typically occurs in childhood, and the symptoms can vary from mild to severe, often fluctuating in intensity and frequency.
Characteristics of Tourette Syndrome: Common tics associated with Tourette Syndrome include eye blinking, coughing, throat clearing, sniffing, and facial movements. Vocal tics can include grunting, throat clearing, shouting, and using inappropriate or obscene words.
Management and Treatment: Treatment for Tourette Syndrome may involve medications to help control the tics or therapies to help manage the impact of tics on daily life. Comprehensive behavioral intervention for tics (CBIT), a form of behavioral therapy, has been shown to be effective for many individuals. In more severe cases, deep brain stimulation (DBS) may be considered.
Our clinic is dedicated to providing a supportive environment where patients and families can receive comprehensive education about Tourette Syndrome and explore various treatment options. We also focus on research to better understand the underlying causes of TS and to develop more effective treatments.
The University of Miami Movement Disorders division has been designated as a Tourette Association of America Center of Excellence.
Centers of Excellence at University of Miami
The Division received the designation as a Center of Excellence from the Parkinson’s Foundation in 2007. Since then the team has also been designated an American Parkinson’s Disease Information and Referral Center, Cure PSP Center of Care, Huntington Disease Center of Excellence, and Wilson’s Disease Center of Excellence. The division also comprises part of Cognitive Neurology’s Lewy Body Disease Center of Excellence, and the Department of Psychiatry’s Tourette Center of Excellence.
