Neurodivergent glossary
Tourette Syndrome
A neurological condition characterized by involuntary, repetitive movements and vocalizations called tics—far more nuanced and varied than the stereotypes suggest.
What it means
Tourette syndrome (TS) is a neurodevelopmental condition defined by the presence of both motor tics (involuntary movements like blinking, head jerking, or shoulder shrugging) and vocal tics (involuntary sounds like throat clearing, sniffing, or repeating words). Tics typically begin in childhood and can wax and wane in frequency and intensity throughout life.
The most common misconception about Tourette's is that it primarily involves involuntary swearing (coprolalia). In reality, coprolalia affects only about 10-15% of people with TS. Most people with Tourette's experience much subtler tics that may not be immediately obvious to others—but the internal experience of trying to suppress them can be exhausting.
Tourette's frequently co-occurs with ADHD (about 60% overlap) and OCD (about 50% overlap). Many people with TS describe tics as being preceded by a premonitory urge—an uncomfortable sensation that builds until the tic is performed, similar to the need to sneeze. Suppressing tics is possible briefly but requires significant mental effort, and the tics often come back stronger afterward.
In practice
What this can look like
- You spend an entire meeting suppressing your tics so colleagues won't notice. By the time it's over, you're mentally exhausted and the tics come flooding out the moment you're alone—more intense than if you'd just let them happen.
- Someone sees your tic and asks "why do you keep doing that?" You've learned to say "it's a tic, it's involuntary" calmly, but the question still stings every time.
Often confused with
Useful distinctions
Stimming
Stims are typically voluntary (though sometimes automatic) and serve a regulatory purpose—they feel good or helpful. Tics are involuntary and often unwanted. The key difference: stims are something you do for yourself; tics are something that happens to you.
Context
Clinical context
Tourette syndrome is classified in the DSM-5 as a tic disorder requiring both motor and vocal tics present for more than one year, with onset before age 18.
Community note
The Tourette community has been working to shift public understanding beyond the coprolalia stereotype. Many people with TS say the hardest part isn't the tics themselves—it's other people's reactions to them.
NeuroDiversion 2027
A gathering built for unique minds
Three days in Austin with people who get it.
Pages that link here
These pages include a direct link to this definition.