The primary symptoms of Tourette syndrome are tics, which are classified as simple or complex:

• Simple tics are sudden, brief, repetitive movements or sounds involving a limited number of muscle groups (e.g., eye blinking, head jerking, shoulder shrugging, eye darting, nose twitching, mouth movements, grunting, coughing, throat clearing, barking).

• Complex tics are distinct, coordinated patterns of movement involving several muscle groups (e.g., touching or smelling objects, repeating observed movements, stepping in a certain pattern, obscene gesturing, bending or twisting, hopping, and repeating one's own or others' words or phrases, including using vulgar, obscene, or swear words).