Signs of Tourette's in an Infant

If a child has Tourette's Syndrome (TS), the condition generally doesn't manifest itself until the child is between the ages of three and 10, although the child is born with it. This syndrome is a neurological movement disorder genetically passed along. When afflicted with this condition, the person makes repeated and involuntary body movements, called tics, which can get worse when the person is stressed or fatigued.

Infants

• Infants generally do not display symptoms of TS. This doesn't happen until they are about seven years old, which is the median age for onset. However that does not mean that your infant doesn't have this affliction. The first symptoms of TS are usually eye blinking and facial tics. TS is usually worse when a child is going through puberty and then declines or may even disappear altogether. TS afflicts males more frequently than females.

Motor Tics

• TS can cause motor tics, involuntary movements generally involving the neck and face muscle. The tic can be nose twitching, eye blinking, shrugging or leg kicking, arm thrusting and jumping motions, according to Tourettes101.com.

Complex Tics

• Another type of tic is a series of movements, referred to as a complex tic. An example of this is echopraxia, which is the mimicking of movements made by others. These are not done on purpose.

  Another example of a complex motor tic is called copropraxia, which is performing forbidden or obscene gestures. Palipraxia is the repetition of a behavior or movement. This is not universally recognized as a tic but probably should be.

Vocal Tics

• Someone who has Tourette's Syndrome may have complex vocal tics that include repeating the words that he has just said, which is called palilalia or repeating what others have said, which is echolalia, or saying obscene words, which is referred to as coprolalia.

At Risk

• The Mayo Clinic notes that someone who has TS may be at increased risk for social and behavioral challenges as well as learning difficulties, although the individual's IQ may be fine. Conditions related to TS include obsessive compulsive disorder, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, learning disabilities, depression, sleep disorders and problems with anxiety.

Talk to Your Doctor

• If your infant is genetically predisposed to have TS, consult with a pediatric neurologist. If for some reason you think your child may have TS, even though there is no genetic reason for it, talk to your doctor and tell him what you have observed. Express your concerns.