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Tests and diagnosis
By Mayo Clinic staffThere's no specific test that can diagnose Tourette syndrome. Instead, doctors must rely on the history of the person's symptoms to diagnose the disorder.
To be diagnosed with Tourette syndrome, someone must meet criteria spelled out in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). This manual is published by the American Psychiatric Association and is used by mental health professionals to diagnose certain conditions and by insurance companies to reimburse for treatment.
According to the DSM, the criteria to diagnose Tourette syndrome include:
- Both motor and vocal tics must be present.
- Tics occur several times a day, nearly every day or intermittently, for more than a year. There must not be a break in tics for more than a three-month period.
- The onset of tics occurs before age 18.
- Symptoms are not caused by medications, other substances or another medical condition.
Diagnosis of Tourette syndrome may be delayed because families and even doctors are sometimes unfamiliar with the symptoms, or the symptoms may mimic other problems. Eye blinking may be initially confused with vision problems, for instance, while sniffing may be attributed to allergies.
Because tics and movement problems can be the result of other serious health conditions, your doctor may suggest having tests to rule out other problems. These tests include blood tests or neuroimaging studies, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
