is this tourettes?

I am the wondering if my 7 1/2 yr old son has tourettes syndrome.
He has many motor tics, including facial grimaces, smelling (everything) touching things (he has burnt himself many times when asked not to touch hot things...because he had to), shoulder shrugging, nose scratching clothes pulling, chewing to name but a few. He has one vocal tic but may I feel be developing more.
He says he has to 'do these things' because he just doesnt feel 'right' if he doesnt, and once he has performed a tic he seems to breath a sigh of relief. His vocal tic began in march of this year tho the others have bee here for about 18 months.
He was ? ADHD about 18 months ago due to violent mood swings, but they have put this down to hyperactivity and 'willfullness', but I feel there is something more to his behaviour than this, he is a well disciplined boy, and can become so engrossed in play that he is unaware of his surroundings, although his tics continue even then.
My nephew was diagnosed with ts in feb this year, but we are unaware of any other family with the same complaint.
Please can you give me some advice!
Many thank, and I apologise for the length!

[Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D.]

His tic symptoms certainly qualify for a diagnosis of Tourette's Disorder, and it is worth following up on this. Violent mood swings are not typical of either TS or ADHD, though some of the medications used to treat TS might also have a beneficial impact on his mood. It's also possible that he displays an anxiety disorder, like Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, by virtue of his comment that he relievs a certain tension by performing particular acts. It is possible that he experiences some obsessions and then engages in some repetitive behaviors to dispel the impact of the obsession.

[rlfslotqueen]

A related discussion, symptomns in 7 year old children with touretts syndromn was started.