What are Tics & Tourette?

"Tourette syndrome (TS) is a neurological disorder that may cause sudden unwanted and uncontrolled rapid and repeated movements or vocal sounds called tics. TS is one of a group of disorders of the developing nervous system called tic disorders.

The motor (involving body movement) or vocal (involving sounds you make) tics of TS come and go over time, varying in type, frequency, location, and severity. If you have tics, you cannot stop your body from having them. The first symptoms usually occur between the ages of 5 and 10 years, generally in the head and neck area. These may progress to include the muscles in your torso, arms, and legs. Motor tics generally occur before the development of vocal tics. 

Tourette syndrome affects more boys than girls. Most people with TS experience their worst tic symptoms in their early teens, but tics typically lessen and become controlled by the late teens to early 20s. For some people, TS can be a chronic condition with symptoms that last into adulthood. In some cases, tics may worsen in adulthood. TS is not a degenerative condition (one that continues to get worse) and individuals with TS have a normal life expectancy."

Tourettes is distinguished from other tic disorders (persistent motor/vocal tic disorder and provisional tic disorder) by the presence of both motor and vocal tics occurring several times a day for at least 1 year. Since 2023, camp has been open to all those with a confirmed tic disorder diagnosis!

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, retrieved 12/05/2023 from https://www.ninds.nih.gov/health-information/disorders/tourette-syndrome

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