What is Tourette Syndrome?
Tourette Syndrome (or TS) is a neurological disorder characterized by involuntary movements and vocalizations. Now, what does that mean? First, neurological means that it involves the central nervous system, so nerves and the brain play a big role in TS.
What are involuntary movements and vocalizations? For someone with TS, these behaviours are better known as "tics." Tics are the most noticeable part of having TS. A tic is a physical or verbal behaviour that people with TS do, even though they have no control over it. Remember having to sneeze or hiccup; tics are similar. An individual's tics change over time, involving different parts of the body and different sounds. Also, an individual may have more tics at one time than another. While there is no cure for TS, medicine can decrease symptoms of the disorder.
Some people have tics but do not have TS. To be diagnosed with TS, someone must have motor and vocal tics; these tics must have started before that person was 18 years of age, but tics usually start when the child is between 5 and 8 years of age.
Tics are not fun and definitely not funny. People with TS cannot help the tics; they just have to do them. Imagine trying to not blink; after a while, you would just have to do it.
A relatively rare but well-publicized type of complex vocal tic is called coprolalia, in which the person involuntarily utters socially taboo or inappropriate words. While this type of TS is often shown in the media, it is actually a very rare behavior for people with TS.
Though a gene for Tourette syndrome has not yet been identified, there is strong evidence that it is an inherited disorder transmitted through one or more genes.
There are no specific lab tests to confirm a diagnosis of Tourette syndrome. However, a thorough examination by a qualified physician should be performed to rule out other causes of these symptoms.
- Both multiple motor and one or more vocal tics have been present at some time during the illness, although not necessarily at the same time.
- Tics occur many times a day, nearly every day or intermittently, throughout a period of more than 1 year. During this period there must not be a tic-free period of more than 3 consecutive months.
- The disturbance is not due to the direct physiological effects of a substance (e.g., stimulants) or a general medical condition (e.g., Huntington's disease or postviral encephalitis).
- Onset is before 18 years of age.
ADHD/ADD - Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
OCD - Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
LD - Learning Disabilities as Dyselxia
Answers to Most Commonly Asked Questions
What are the most common symptoms?
Symptoms change periodically in number, frequency, type and severity–even disappearing for weeks or months at a time. Commonly, motor tics may be eye blinking, head jerking, shoulder shrugging and facial grimacing. Vocally: throat clearing, sniffing and tongue clicking.
What is the cause of the syndrome?
No definite cause has yet been established, but considerable evidence points to abnormal metabolism of at least one brain chemical called dopamine.
Is it inherited?
Genetic studies indicate that TS is inherited as a dominant gene, with about 50% chance of passing the gene from parent to child. Sons are three to four times more likely than daughters to exhibit TS.
Is obscene language (coprolalia) common with Tourettes?
Definitely not. The fact is that cursing, uttering obscenities, and ethnic slurs are manifested by fewer than 15% of people with TS. Too often, however, the media seize upon this symptom for its sensational effect.
Does it get worse as you get older?
Many people with TS get better, not worse, as they mature. In a small minority of
cases symptoms remit completely in adulthood.
What future faces people with TS?
In general people with TS lead productive lives and can anticipate a normal life span. Despite problems of varying severity, many reach high levels of achievement and number in their ranks as surgeons, psychiatrists, teachers, executives and professional musicians and athletes.