Tourette Syndrome

Tourette; syndrome; tic; swear; disability; behaviour; echolalia; blinking; twitch ;

 

Tourette Syndrome is a disorder of the brain causing people to make movements or sounds which they cannot control. These movements or sounds are called tics.

It is estimated that between 1 in 200 and 1 in 800 people have Tourette Syndrome and it is much more common in boys than girls. There are many different types of tics, and the tics tend to increase and decrease over weeks or months. Some people have simple and mild tics, while for some the tics can be severe, complex and very distressing.

• Many people have some simple tics during their life, but only a few have Tourette Syndrome. Simple tics include facial twitching or blinking, and they stop without any treatment (see 'Habits').
• The tics of Tourette syndrome may be simple tics, but they can be big movements (eg movements of the shoulders and arms) or the person may make sounds (throat clearing, saying words).
• The tics of Tourette Syndrome may change, but children with Tourette Syndrome go on having tics. Often one type of tic is dominant, then that one settles and another type appears.
• For a while the tics may happen a lot, then there may be weeks or months when the child has few tics.
• Tics tend to happen more frequently when the child is stressed.
• Although the person might be able to delay the tic for some minutes or longer, the pressure to make the movement is felt as overwhelming and eventually the person has an outbreak.

Tourette Syndrome is not a psychiatric disease (it does not affect thinking), and people with it have a normal life expectancy. People with Tourette Syndrome have a normal range of intelligence, and some will do well with learning, while others will have problems that are not due to Tourette Syndrome.

However, living with Tourette Syndrome is difficult, particularly because other people may not fully understand that the tics are not under the person's control. The tics may disturb others, so that they become irritated with the person who has a tic. A person with Tourette Syndrome may find socialising very stressful because of the tics, and some become quite depressed and socially isolated.

• Unless the tics interfere with the person's life treatment may not be needed.
• Several drugs can reduce the number and intensity of the tics, but none will completely get rid of all of the symptoms and they can have side effects which cause problems.

Further information

Tourette Syndrome Association of Australia
www.tourette.org.au

Better Health Channel (Victoria) 'Tourette syndrome' 

MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine (USA) 'Tourette syndrome' http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tourettesyndrome.html

The information on this site should not be used as an alternative to professional care. If you have a particular problem, see a doctor, or ring the Parent Helpline on 1300 364 100 (local call cost from anywhere in South Australia).

This topic may use 'he' and 'she' in turn - please change to suit your
child's sex.