Fact Sheet
What is Tourette Syndrome?
Tourette Syndrome (TS) is a neurological disorder which becomes evident in early childhood or adolescence between the ages of 2 and 15 years. Tourette Syndrome is defined by multiple motor and/or vocal tics lasting for more than one year. Tics are defined as sudden, intermittent, repetitive, unpredictable, purposeless, non-rhythmic, involuntary movements or sounds. Many people with TS have only motor tics or only vocal tics. The first symptoms usually are involuntary movements (tics) of the face, arms, limbs or trunk. These tics are frequent, repetitive, and rapid. The most common first symptom is a facial tic (eye blink, nose twitch, grimace), and is replaced or added to by other tics of the neck, trunk, and limbs.
These involuntary (outside the person’s control) tics may also be complicated, involving the entire body, such as kicking and stamping. There are also verbal tics. These verbal tics (vocalizations) usually occur with the movements. Later, they may replace one or more motor tics. These vocalizations include grunting, throat clearing, shouting, and barking. The verbal tics may also be expressed as coprolalia (the involuntary use of obscene words or socially-inappropriate words and phrases) or copropraxia (obscene gestures).
How is it manifested?
Simple:
Motor – eye blinking, head jerking, shoulder shrugging, and facial grimacing
Vocal – throat clearing, yelping and other noises, sniffing, and tongue clicking
Complex:
Motor – jumping, touching other people or things, smelling, twirling about and, although very rare, self-injurious actions including hitting or biting oneself
Vocal – uttering ordinary words or phrases out of context, echolalia (repeating a sound, word, or phrase just heard), palilalia (repeating one’s own words) and in rare cases, coprolalia (vocalizing socially-unacceptable words)
The range of tics or tic-like symptoms that can be seen in Tourette Syndrome is enormous. The complexity of some symptoms often confuses family members, friends, teachers, and employers who may find it hard to believe that the actions or vocal utterances are “involuntary”.
Who is affected?
While once thought to be rare, TS is now seen as a relatively common disorder affecting up to 1 person in every 2,500 in its complete form and three times that number in its partial expressions that include chronic motor tics and some forms of obsessive-compulsive disorder. One in 100 Canadians has Tourette Syndrome. TS is a genetic condition. Studies indicate that a person with TS has a 5-15% chance of having a child, sibling, or parent with the condition.
How is it diagnosed or detected?
A diagnosis is made by observing symptoms and by evaluating the history of their onset. No blood analysis, X-ray or other type of medical test exists to identify TS. A doctor may, however, wish to order an EEG, CAT scan or certain blood tests to rule out other ailments that could be confused with TS.
Additional Resources:
Tourette Syndrome Foundation of Canada (TSFC) – www.tourette.ca
The Foundation disseminates educational material to individuals, professionals and agencies in the fields of health care, education and government through its local affiliates. These Chapters, Resource Units and Contact Representatives across the country help TS patients and their families cope with the problems that so often occur with a diagnosis of TS.
Life’s A Twitch – www.lifesatwitch.com
“Life’s a Twitch” is a website based on Tourette Syndrome and associated disorders from the study and clinical work of B. Duncan McKinlay, Ph.D., C.Psych., a Canadian Psychologist registered to work with children and adolescents in the areas of clinical and school psychology.
Tourette Syndrome – Now What? – http://tourettenowwhat.tripod.com/
This site raises awareness about the full spectrum of Tourette’s Disorder, with support and accurate information based on the latest research.
Books and Literature:
Children with Tourette Syndrome: A Parents’ Guide
By Tracy Lynn Marsh
Kids in the Syndrome Mix of ADHD, LD, Asperger’s, Tourette’s, Bipolar and More!: The One Stop Guide for Parents, Teachers, and Other Professionals
By Martin Kutscher
Tourette’s Syndrome: Finding Answers and Getting Help
By Mitzi Waltz
The content contained in this document is for general information purposes. It is not the intention to diagnose or treat a child.