Tourette syndrome and otolaryngology

Tourette syndrome (TS) is the most complex tic disorder and presents primarily in the pediatric population between the ages of two and 15. The otolaryngologist may be consulted to see such a patient because of head and neck or facial tics or more often because of phonic or vocal tics such as throat-clearing, sniffing, coughing or abnormal noises. As this disorder has not appeared in the otolaryngologic literature we undertook a retrospective chart review (N = 72) and follow-up questionnaire related to the otolaryngologic aspects of this disorder.