Tourette syndrome is a nervous system disorder, which manifests in either motor or vocal tics. — TNS
Tourette syndrome is a nervous system disorder.
It causes people to have repetitive movements or sounds they can’t control.
These are known as tics, and they typically start in childhood.
There are two types: motor tics and vocal tics.
You may feel anxious if your child is diagnosed with Tourette syndrome.
That’s completely understandable, and educating yourself about this condition can go a long way toward lessening your fears.
Tics can be short, fast, sudden or come in clusters.
They can also vary in number, frequency, type or severity.
They can even disappear for weeks or months at a time.
We often see Tourette syndrome portrayed in popular media as people blurting out profane words.
This is rare in real life. Usually, tics start gradually.
In fact, your child may have had them for a long time before you notice.
Motor tics include:
- Blinking
- Head-jerking
- Grimacing
- Mouth-opening
- Shoulder-shrugging
- Knuckle-cracking
- Little jumps while walking
Verbal tics include:
- Sneezing
- Throat-clearing
- Barking and other animal sounds
- Snorting
- Repeating words or phrases
Tics typically get worse when your child is anxious, stressed, excited, tired or angry.
Keep in mind that tics are usually temporary and mild.
Some kids feel they can briefly control their tics. But the urge only grows and has to be released.
When your child is focusing attention on something else, their tics may improve.
It’s best not to point out or comment on your child’s tics.
This might make them more self-conscious, which could also make the tics worse.
Instead, make your child’s tics seem natural and normal.
There are no specific tests to diagnose Tourette syndrome, but sometimes, laboratory tests such as blood tests, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or an electroencephalogram (EEG) may be used to rule out other conditions that may be causing your child’s symptoms.
Healthcare professionals use the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (Fifth Edition) to help diagnose Tourette syndrome.
They look for:
- Multiple motor tics and vocal tics, though they might not always happen at the same time.
- Tics that happen any number of times a day (usually in clusters), nearly every day, or off and on, for at least a year.
- Tics that began before the age of 18.
- Symptoms that aren’t from taking other drugs or having conditions such as seizures, Hunting-ton’s disease or post-viral encephalitis
Tourette syndrome is usually mild. Serious health conditions, complications and other related problems are rare.
There is no cure for Tourette syndrome. But many kids don’t need treatment at all.
Your child’s symptoms only need to be treated if they’re interfering with his or her life.
If the tics affect schoolwork, social life or behaviour, for example, there are some treatment options that may help.
The first line of treatment is a therapy called cognitive behavioural intervention for tics.
This therapy is highly effective. But it isn’t always easy to get because there aren’t many psychologists trained in it.
Regular talk therapy can help your child learn to relax and cope with stress.
If your child has other behavioural conditions, therapy can help with these as well.
Medications can’t completely get rid of Tourette syndrome symptoms, but there are many drugs used to treat tics.
Talk to your doctor about which might be best for your child based on other health conditions, such as depression, ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) and age.
In general, there’s not much to fear when it comes to Tourette syndrome.
Children with this disorder can live productive lives and they have a normal life expectancy.
Most children with Tourette syndrome get better in adolescence or early adulthood.
Only a third continue to have symptoms in adulthood.
But of those, very few need significant support in life. – By Dr Alcy R. Torres/American Academy of Pediatrics/Tribune News Service
Dr Alcy R. Torres is an associate professor of paediatrics and neurology at the Boston University School of Medicine and a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics’ Section on Neurology.
