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Tourette's Syndrome is the most severe of the Tic Disorders. In order to be diagnosed with Tourette's, the person must have both multiple motor tics and at least one vocal tic. A vocal tic might be barking like a dog, grunting like a hog, or swearing like a pirate; the latter, which occurs in only about 10% of Tourette victims, is called "coprolalia," and is probably the best-known feature of Tourette's. The motor and vocal tics must have been present, not necessarily simultaneously, for at least a year, with no period of absence longer than 3 months. Typically the tics occur many times a day nearly every day. As with all diagnoses, this one requires that the problem interfere seriously with some aspect of the person's life, and not be accounted for by a substance problem or medical condition, or be accounted for better by another diagnosis. Finally, the problem must originate before the victim is 18 years old. There is a clear and strong genetic component to
Tic Disorders; children inherit a propensity for tics from their
parents. In addition, Tic Disorders are often accompanied by other
problems. A tendency toward obsessive-compulsive
problems is the best example, but attention
deficits are another. A very recent book and movie, both
entitled "The Tic Code," and based on the life of a jazz
musician with Tourette's Syndrome, should increase public
understanding of this disorder. Last updated 12/19/03 |
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