|
This is the bit where you either decide to read on and learn about Tourette Syndrome, or go elsewhere and remain ignorant. Either way, this page is here to help you understand what TS is, how it affects people and my own experiences as a person with Tourette Syndrome. Most of the information given on this page has been taken from brochures and other literature on TS that I have acquired along the way - should you want copies of them for your own use, contact the Tourette Syndrome Association in your area. A lot of the literature on TS describes it as a neurochemical or neurobiological disorder characterised by motor and vocal/phonic tics. This is a medical way of saying certain chemicals and/or parts of the brain are not in a "normal" state, resulting in tics, which can be vocal, motor or a complex combination of both. Tics occur in a LOT of people, but not all people who tics have TS. Plenty of kids develop tics before they hit puberty, but most of them outgrow them. A tic disorder may be diagnosed as TS if there are a combination of motor and vocal tics over a long period of time, usually 12 months or more. Tics aren't static - they change over time. There are also cycles of tic severity, in which tics may increase in intensity, only to all but disappear down the track. Tics are funny things...they can be held in or supressed to some extent, like when in new or uncomfortable situations, only to return with a vengeance when the person returns to a familiar, safe environment, or cannot supress them any longer. Although some people believe that tics are worse when the person is under stress or pressure, nobody has been able to explain why they suddenly stop when the ticcer goes to see their doctor or neurologist. Curious.
|