Tourette’s Disorder or Tourette’s Syndrome is a neurological condition that influences the brain and body, which causes involuntary movements called tics. Although Tourette’s is often characterized by swearing and yelling, it can cause a variety of sounds and movements, from head bobbing to blinking to coughing.

Tourette’s is usually diagnosed in early to middle childhood, usually from 5-10 years old. Parents may notice tics starting around age 6, but sometimes Tourette’s is not considered and may be underdiagnosed. Often, children are diagnosed with Tourette’s when guardians notice verbal or motor tics. Verbal tics may include coughing, repeating words, sounds, phrases, yelling, swearing, or any other noise. Motor tics may include blinking, tapping, shrugging, head bobbing, grimacing, and more. Tics can also be broken into simple versus complex tics. Simple tics include only one or two parts of the body, like blinking rapidly or coughing. Complex tics involve multiple movements across the body, like clapping and then jumping.

Tourette’s tends to wax and wane, meaning that symptoms and tics change over time. A person may have frequent, disruptive tics for several months, and then fewer tics in the future. As a person ages, a person’s tics often decrease in frequency. Tics can change over time, for example, a person might have a blinking tic at age 6, and by age 7, their tics might include yelling or grinding their teeth. Tics are worsened by stress and high emotion–anxiety, excitement, and exhaustion can increase tics.

There is no known cause of Tourette’s Syndrome, but it is genetic and can be passed down through family. Children and adults with Tourette’s are more likely to have other health conditions, especially ADHD (Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder), OCD, and Generalized Anxiety Disorder. Boys are more likely to be diagnosed with Tourette’s than girls. Tic disorders (including, but not limited, to Tourette’s) are not uncommon, in fact, as many as 1 in 50 children may have a tic disorder. About 1 in 162 children may have Tourette’s, however, it can be missed and therefore, underdiagnosed.

Tourette’s has no cure, however, therapy and medications may help improve quality of life and decrease the severity of tics. Treatments may include habit changing or comprehensive behavioral intervention for tics. Habit changing focuses on the type of tic occurring (as well as verbally naming the tic aloud) and possibly changing it to another, more manageable tic (instead of hitting one’s head, changing the tic to rubbing one’s hair or ear). Comprehensive behavioral intervention for tics (CBIT) includes not only habit reversal, but also changing one’s environment to be less stressful. A person might identify the tics they have and triggers that worsen tics, like loud noises or crowded rooms. A person may then be able to change their environment as necessary to help manage the tics. CBIT should also include education to family, friends, and other people in the person’s life, in order to create a more compassionate and accommodating playing ground for the person with Tourette’s.

Tourette’s can be a difficult condition to manage–from being ridiculed, to facing pain and other physical issues from tics. However, with the right medication and possibility of therapy, as well as the nature of Tourette’s to become less severe with age, a person can live a productive, healthy life with Tourette’s. If you are concerned about yourself, your child, or loved one, follow up with your primary care physician, therapist, or neurologist. If you feel like you or someone you know might be in need of mental health support, you can contact Family Service of the Chautauqua Region at 716-488-1971, as well as, a variety of other community mental health providers.

Information received from the Centers for Disease Control.