What Is Tourette Syndrome?
Tourette syndrome (TS) is a neurological disorder where a person has both motor and vocal tics. Doctors and scientists don't know the exact cause of TS, but some research suggests that it occurs when there's a problem with how nerves communicate in the brain. A disturbance in the balance in neurotransmitters — chemicals in the brain that carry nerve signals from cell to cell — may play a role in TS.
Tourette syndrome is not contagious. You can't catch it from someone who has it. Studies suggest that TS is a genetic disorder, which means it's the result of a change in genes that's either inherited (passed on from parent to child) or happens during development in the womb.
As with other genetic disorders, someone may have a tendency to develop TS. But that doesn't mean the person will definitely get the condition. Doctors and researchers are continually learning new information about TS and what might lead a person to develop it.
People with Tourette syndrome usually first notice symptoms while they're kids or teens. TS affects people of all races and backgrounds, although more guys than girls have the condition.
What Are the Signs and Symptoms?
The main symptoms of TS are tics. Motor tics can be everything from eye blinking or grimacing to head jerking or foot stamping. Some examples of verbal tics are throat clearing, making clicking sounds, repeated sniffing, yelping, or shouting. In rare cases, people with TS might have a tic that makes them harm themselves, such as head banging.
At certain times, like when a person is under stress, the tics may become more severe, more frequent, or longer. Or the type of tic may change altogether. (This is also true for people who have tics that are not part of Tourette syndrome.)
Some people may be able to suppress their tics for a short time. But tension builds, and it eventually has to be released as a tic. And if a person is concentrating on controlling the tic, it may be hard to focus on anything else. This can make it hard for teens with TS to have a conversation or pay attention in class.
In addition, many teens with TS have other conditions, such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Learning disabilities are common in people with TS. They also may have trouble sleeping. heart
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