Tourette Syndrome
What is Tourette syndrome?
Tourette syndrome (TS) is a disorder that causes both motor and vocal tics. Motor tics are brief, rapid movements of the face, hands, or legs that happen over and over. Vocal tics can be words, throat clearing, or other sounds that are not made on purpose. If tics are severe, or happen often, they can affect a child’s life in many ways.
Tourette syndrome is usually lifelong, though symptoms may improve for weeks or even years at a time. In most cases, the symptoms decrease by your 40s or 50s.
What is the cause?
The exact cause of Tourette syndrome is not known. It runs in families. It may also be related to low birth weight, head injury, carbon monoxide poisoning, strep infection, or brain diseases.
What are the symptoms?
Symptoms may include:
- Eye twitches or eye blinks
- Facial grimaces
- Head jerks
- Kicking, jumping, bending, or twisting
- Touching objects
- Grunting, throat clearing, or sniffling
- Yelping, making up words, or repeating words over and over
- Angry outbursts
A child may have one type of tic or many different tics. The tic may start in one body part and spread to other body parts. Sometimes tics disappear for minutes or hours. Children with TS often have trouble paying attention and concentrating because they are distracted by their tics. Some develop obsessions, such as needing to have things in a particular order, or they may have compulsions, such as checking, counting, or repeating words.
How is it diagnosed?
Your child’s healthcare provider will ask about your child’s symptoms and medical history and examine your child. Your child may have tests or scans to check for possible causes of the symptoms, such as a seizure disorder.
How is it treated?
The best form of treatment for Tourette syndrome is medicine. Behavioral therapy may also help by teaching children things they can do to decrease tics.
How can I take care of my child?
Never punish or shame a child for tic behaviors. There is very little that your child can do to control or stop the tics. Telling your child to stop does not solve the problem. In fact, it may make tics worse. Do not make a big deal out of the behaviors.
Learn as much as you can about Tourette syndrome. If your child’s symptoms are seriously interfering with his or her daily life, seek help from your child’s healthcare provider or a mental health professional. If your child is diagnosed with Tourette syndrome, your child’s school may be able to provide some additional support.
You can get more information from:
- The Tourette Syndrome Association, Inc.
718-224-2999
http://www.tsa-usa.org/
Last modified: 2015-01-19
Last reviewed: 2014-01-12
Tourette Syndrome: References
Waltz, M. (n.d.) GETTING OLDER WITH TS. National Tourette Syndrome Association. Retrieved January 2015 from http://www.tsa-usa.org/aPeople/LivingWithTS/GettingOlderWithTS.html
What is Tourette Syndrome? (n.d.) Tourettes Action. Retrieved January 2015 from http://www.tourettes-action.org.uk/67-what-is-ts.html?74
“Tourette Syndrome Fact Sheet.” National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS). Retrieved 28 June 2011 from http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/tourette/detail_tourette.htm.
Gravino G. Gilles de la Tourette syndrome. Ann Clin Psychiatry. 2013 Nov;25(4):297-306.
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Tourette Syndrome Fact Sheet. Jan. 2012. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/tourette/detail_tourette.htm.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and Tourette’s Disorder: Where Are We Now? Barbara J. Coffey and Judith Rapoport. Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology. August 2010, 20(4): 235-236. doi:10.1089/cap.2010.2041.
Piacentini J, et al. Randomized trial of a behavioral intervention for children with Tourette’s Disorder. Journal of the American Medical Association. 19 May 2010. 303(19).