Tics and Tourette syndrome in autism spectrum disorders.

Canitano et al. (2007) looked at 105 children and teens with autism. They counted how many also had tics or Tourette syndrome. The team used a simple case-series design—no fancy lab work, just careful observation.

About 1 in 5 kids with autism had a tic disorder. Half of those had Tourette syndrome; half had chronic motor tics. Tics got worse when the child had more cognitive delay.

Kim et al. (2023) ran a bigger survey and found the same 1-in-5 rate. But they saw tics link to higher IQ, not lower. The gap is real: Roberto’s group came from a clinic for more impaired youth; Kim’s sample was broader.

Jokiranta et al. (2014) showed epilepsy also clusters with lower IQ in autism. Together these papers flag that brain-based comorbidities travel with cognitive level—direction depends on the symptom.

Boudreau et al. (2015) widened the lens: GI and sleep problems cluster too. The big picture—autism rarely rides alone; always screen the whole body.

You already watch for stimming and social gaps. Add a 30-second tic check to every session. Ask the parent: “Any eye blinks, throat clears, or shoulder jerks?” If tics show up, note the child’s cognitive profile. A lower IQ may mean more frequent tics; a higher IQ may mean more complex ones. Either way, share the data with the doctor—behavior plans work better when meds and tics are also managed.