| What is Tourette Syndrome? Tourette Syndrome is an inherited, neurological disorder characterized by repeated and involuntary body movements (tics) and uncontrollable vocal sounds. In a minority of cases, the vocalizations can include socially inappropriatewords and phrases --called coprolalia. These outbursts are neither intentional nor purposeful. Involuntary symptoms can included eye blinking, repeated throat clearing or sniffing, arm thrusting, kicking movements, shoulder shrugging or jumping. These and other symptoms typically appear before the age of 18 and the condition occurs in all ethnic groups with males affected 3 to 4 times more oftenthan females. Although the symptoms of TS vary from person to person and range from |
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| very mild to severe, the majority of cases fall into the mild
category. Associated conditions can include obsessivity, attentional problems
and impulsiveness. How does it affect me? Tourette Syndrome affects every person who walks the face of this earth. Whether your walking down threw a store or attending church, the person behind you could have TS. The involuntary body movements (tics) and uncontrollable vocal sounds are not forwarned. But you see him/her jerk their arm and almost hit the lady beside them. Staring at this person will not make them stop, stress only adds to it. Many people are still uninformed and naïve about the disorder. As a result, they might think the person with Tourette's is just joking or actually meant to hit that lady beside them. |
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If the person has any sense, he or she will soon realize that the individual
suffers from a disorder and did not mean to do it. I have met many people
during my life, people are not as perceptive as I had thought, as it sometimes
takes a person an unreasonable amount of time to understand the disorder.
Stares, whispers, pointing fingers and laughter was one thing I was always told not to do when I was little. Handicapped people who see this makes them feel as if |
| they are the center of attention. While taking my child
shopping one day, I whitnessed this from not only children but adults as
well. Wanting to protect my child from this horrible act, I turned
and walk away. If the shoe was on the other foot, what would you have
done?
Most people with TS lead productive lives and participate in all professions. Increased public understanding and tolerance of TS symptoms are of paramount importance to people with Tourette Syndrome. No one can ever accept the fact that something is wrong with a loved one. But by educating yourself and knowing what TS is all about will not only help you, but it can help your loved one or the person behind you. |
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