Tourette syndrome is still very misunderstood. Hopefully this FAQ’s page will help readers better understand the condition, I will keep adding to it as time goes on!
In the 1800’s, French neurologist Georges Gilles de la Tourette was tasked with looking into movement disorders, working with patients experiencing tics. Tourette’s mentor named the condition after him to honour his work in understanding it.
Tourette syndrome is a tic disorder alongside ‘provisional’ and ‘persistent’ tic disorder. In short, a Tourette diagnosis requires both motor (movement) and vocal (sounds, words, or phrases), and tics that have persisted for more than one year.
A common fear for many is that they are faking tics, or doing so to seek attention. OCD is a common co-occurring condition and although this is my speculation, it seems this worry may stem from obsessive thoughts and seeking reassurance as a compulsion. People that fake things don’t Google whether or not they are faking things!
Depending on the source, the answer seems to be typically between the ages of 2 and 15 years of age.
Absolutely! I would imagine that most people with Tourette syndrome experience a change in tics, regarding frequency and also how they manifest.
Tourette is a syndrome- a collection of factors that we can identify, however may not have an identifiable cause. Although some things are better understood there’s still some mysteries.
According to some studies, there’s a 50% chance of passing TS onto children.
Tourette isn’t contagious, despite some speculation and inaccurate portrayals in the media.
Despite obvious obstacles, Tourette doesn’t affect life expectancy nor does it prevent people from living ‘normal’ lives. Many people with Tourette have went on to become very successful, from sports stars to brain surgeons!
The current dates are from 15th May- 15th June, with some specific days of the year celebrated depending on country.
As a former child with TS, my parents and I learned a lot along the way! Thankfully the internet is great at helping us build communities and learning from one another.
This varies for everyone, for me it’s probably one every few seconds, but increases/decreases often. I created an article on just how draining these tics can be, from a few hours to a whole lifetime.