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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Quick Facts
Tourettes & tics have both genetic and environmental factors
Current research shows abnormalities in certain brain regions including the basal ganglia, frontal lobe, and cortex, circuits that connect these regions, and the levels of neurotransmitters dopamine, serotonin and norepinephrine
There is no cure for TS, but there are behavioral and medical treatments available for symptoms which interfere with functioning
Examples of common simple tics are:
Motor tics: Eye blinking and other eye movements, facial grimacing, shoulder shrugging, head or neck jerking
Vocal tics: repetitive throat clearing, sniffing, barking, grunting
Although coprolalia (obscene or swearing tics) is one of the most publicized symptoms of TS, it is relatively uncommon and is not required for a diagnosis
Common co-occurring conditions are ADHD, OCD, anxiety, problems sleeping, social functioning difficulties, and sensory processing issues
These conditions can frequently present more challenges for an individual than the tics themselves
