How many people ACTUALLY know what Tourette Syndrome is?

Question

Not trying to resolve anything, we'll just call i a social experiment. I have tourette's as does my son. I just want to see how badly misconceived this disability is.

Answer 1

What Is Tourette Syndrome?
Tourette syndrome (TS) is a neurological disorder where a person has both motor and vocal tics. Doctors and scientists don't know the exact cause of TS, but some research suggests that it occurs when there's a problem with how nerves communicate in the brain. A disturbance in the balance in neurotransmitters — chemicals in the brain that carry nerve signals from cell to cell — may play a role in TS.

Tourette syndrome is not contagious. You can't catch it from someone who has it. Studies suggest that TS is a genetic disorder, which means it's the result of a change in genes that's either inherited (passed on from parent to child) or happens during development in the womb.

As with other genetic disorders, someone may have a tendency to develop TS. But that doesn't mean the person will definitely get the condition. Doctors and researchers are continually learning new information about TS and what might lead a person to develop it.

People with Tourette syndrome usually first notice symptoms while they're kids or teens. TS affects people of all races and backgrounds, although more guys than girls have the condition.

What Are the Signs and Symptoms?
The main symptoms of TS are tics. Motor tics can be everything from eye blinking or grimacing to head jerking or foot stamping. Some examples of verbal tics are throat clearing, making clicking sounds, repeated sniffing, yelping, or shouting. In rare cases, people with TS might have a tic that makes them harm themselves, such as head banging.

At certain times, like when a person is under stress, the tics may become more severe, more frequent, or longer. Or the type of tic may change altogether. (This is also true for people who have tics that are not part of Tourette syndrome.)

Some people may be able to suppress their tics for a short time. But tension builds, and it eventually has to be released as a tic. And if a person is concentrating on controlling the tic, it may be hard to focus on anything else. This can make it hard for teens with TS to have a conversation or pay attention in class.


In addition, many teens with TS have other conditions, such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Learning disabilities are common in people with TS. They also may have trouble sleeping.

What Do Doctors Do?
Some family doctors may refer a person with symptoms of TS to a neurologist. Before TS can be diagnosed, a person must have multiple motor tics and at least one vocal tic at some time during the illness (though not necessarily at the same time). For doctors to diagnose someone with TS, that person should never have a tic-free period longer than 3 months, even if the tics happen off and on or not every day. The neurologist may ask a person to keep track of the frequency and kinds of tics he or she is having.

There isn't a specific test for TS. Instead, the doctor looks at the family medical history, the person's symptoms, and other clues to make a diagnosis. Sometimes, doctors use imaging tests like magnetic resonance imaging tests (MRIs), computerized tomography (CT) scans, electroencephalograms (EEGs), or blood tests to rule out other conditions that might have symptoms similar to TS.

Just as TS is different for every person, the treatment for it varies, too. There isn't a cure for TS, and no medication can control the disease itself — although some medications can help control tics if they are severe enough to interfere with a person's life.

TS is not a psychological condition, but doctors sometimes refer teens with TS to a psychologist or psychiatrist. Seeing a therapist won't stop tics. But a therapist can help people with TS deal what's going on, cope with stress better, and learn relaxation techniques.

Some research suggests that there might be a connection between strep throat infections and TS, but this is still being studied.

Dealing With Tourette Syndrome
Many people don't understand what TS is or what causes it, so they might not know what to make of someone who has TS. And if people stare, it can feel embarrassing or frustrating. People with TS might have to explain their condition a lot or have to deal with people thinking they're strange. Although it's not easy to have TS, there's good news — the tics usually get milder or go away during adulthood.

In the meantime, if you have TS, it can help to focus your energies on something else. Some of the things teens with TS can do include:

Get involved. Some people say that when they're engrossed in an activity, their tics are milder and less frequent. Sports, exercise, or hobbies are great ways for teens to focus mental and physical energy. Some well-known athletes have TS.
Give a helping hand. Dealing with TS often makes people more understanding of other people's feelings, especially other teens with problems. Use your special sensitivity by volunteering.
Embrace your creativity. Creative activities such as writing, painting, or making music help focus the mind on other things. There's speculation that the composer Mozart had TS.
Find support. The Tourette Syndrome Association sponsors support groups with others who understand the challenges of TS.
Take control. People with TS can feel more in control of their lives by researching TS, asking their doctors plenty of questions, and taking an active role in their treatment.
Each person with TS will cope differently with its physical, emotional, and social challenges. Because TS doesn't usually restrict activities, though, people with the condition can enjoy themselves and pursue their dreams and goals in just the same way their friends do.

Reviewed by: Elana Pearl Ben-Joseph, MD
Date reviewed: January 2007
Originally reviewed by: Joseph V. Queenan, MD

Answer 2

Tourette syndrome (TS) is an inherited, neurological disorder characterized by repeated involuntary movements and uncontrollable vocal (phonic) sounds called tics. In a few cases, such tics can include inappropriate words and phrases.

The disorder is named for Dr. Georges Gilles de la Tourette, the pioneering French neurologist who first described an 86-year-old French noblewoman with the condition in 1885.

The symptoms of TS generally appear before the individual is 18 years old. TS can affect people of all ethnic groups; males are affected 3 to 4 times more often than females. It is estimated that 100,000 Americans have full-blown TS, and that perhaps as many as 1 in 200 show a partial expression of the disorder, such as chronic multiple tics or transient childhood tics.

The natural course of TS varies from patient to patient. Although TS symptoms range from very mild to quite severe, the majority of cases fall in the mild category.

Answer 3

I have a good friend with Tourette Syndrome and new advancements are being made to place a small transmitter under the skin to control the seizure like episodes.

Answer 4

Tourette's syndrome is a hereditary tic disorder that begins in childhood. Symptoms include simple, complex, and vocal tics. Diagnosis is clinical. Treatment may include clonidine or antipsychotics.
Please see the web pages for more details on Tourette's syndrome.

Answer 5

Tourette Syndrome is a neurological disorder. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders classifies it as a "tic disorder". You can learn all about it here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tourette_syndrome

Answer 6

I know what Tourettes Syndrome is because my son has it. It is a brain disorder or neurological disorder. It causes stuttering, tics (involuntary movement of the face and mouth), and can also cause the person that has it to shout out obscenities without warning or control.

Answer 7

I learned about it over 23 years ago. There was a man who attended our church back home and he had Tourette Syndrome. He talked to the church about it, the uncontrollable urges, and curse words and sounds.

Answer 8

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Answer 9

I know a little bit about it i watched a tv show about it on MTV living with tourettes true life

Answer 10

I have a friend with Tourette's and has tics. She also has a brother with it.

Answer 11

I do, is an inherited neurological disorder with onset in childhood, characterized by the presence of multiple physical (motor) tics and at least one vocal (phonic) tic; these tics characteristically wax and wane. Tourette's is defined as part of a spectrum of tic disorders, which includes transient and chronic tics.