What Is A Tourette Syndrome And How Can It Affect Children?

Have you ever seen anyone with a Tourette syndrome before? You would have been surprised if you see them for the first time. People with Tourette syndrome will normally have to deal with stares and weird looks from strangers because they sometimes shout unexpectedly or blinks their eyes fast and hard. To people who do not know about these ‘tics’ would probably think they are in pain or need help. You should know that these tics are symptoms of Tourette syndrome. What Is A Tourette Syndrome? Photo Credit: Adobe Stock According to Mayo Clinic, Tourette syndrome is a condition that cannot be easily controlled, involving repetitive movements or unwanted sounds (tics). For example, your eyes can blink constantly, shrug your shoulders, or blur out strange sounds or offensive words. Tics typically occur between the ages of 2 and 15, with an average age of about 6 years. Around three or four males are likely to develop Tourette syndrome than females. Treatments are available even though there is no cure for Tourette syndrome. If the symptoms are not troublesome, many people with Tourette syndrome do not require medication. After the teen years, tics sometimes diminish or become manageable. The exact cause of Tourette syndrome is not clear, although some evidence indicates that there is a problem with how nerves communicate in some areas of the brain. A neurotransmitter balance disorder (chemicals in the brain that carry cell-to-cell nerve signals) could play a role. What Are The Symptoms? The hallmark symptom of Tourette syndrome is tics- sudden, brief, intermittent movements or sounds. They can vary from mild to severe. Communication, everyday functioning, and quality of life can be substantially affected by extreme symptoms. Photo Credit: Adobe Stock Tics are defined as: Simple tics. A small number of muscle groups are involved in these unexpected, brief and repeated tics. Complicated tics. Several muscle groups are involved in these various, synchronised patterns of movements. Tics can also include movement or sounds (motor tics) (vocal tics). In general, motor tics occur before vocal tics do. But the spectrum of tics encountered by people is diverse. Tics can also: Differ in types, frequency and intensity. If you are sick, depressed, nervous, exhausted or excited, you are going to get worse. It happens when you sleep. Shift over time. Worsening at the beginning of puberty and improve during the transition to adulthood. Usually, you will feel an unpleasant physical sensation (premonitory urge) such as itching, tingling, or tension before the onset of motor or vocal tics. Expression provides relief to the tic. Some individuals with Tourette Syndrome will momentarily stop or hold back a tic with enormous effort. Photo Credit: ilu.se The tics should be examined by a doctor. Some family doctors may refer neurologists to a person with symptoms of Tourette (a doctor who specialises in problems with the nervous system). Neurologists may recommend that a person keep track of the types of tics involved and how often they occur. Do know that not all tics are indicated by Tourette syndrome. After a few weeks or months, a lot of children develop tics that go away on their own. However, it is necessary to establish the cause and to rule out serious health concerns if the child has unusual behaviour. Complications Photo Credit: Neurodiem.au People with Tourette syndrome also live healthy, active lives. Tourette syndrome, however, also entails behavioural and social problems that can destroy the perception of one's self. Conditions that frequently associate with Tourette syndrome include: Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) Autism spectrum disorder Learning disabilities Sleep disorders Depression Anxiety disorders Pain related to tics, especially headaches Anger-management problems Seek a professional to ward off any self-harm when uncontrollable tics have happened! Always refer to a doctor who can help people with Tourette syndrome. If you want to know more, you can watch this video below explaining what is Tourette syndrome and what causes it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?vTSiVameZBn4 Lastly, each person with Tourette Syndrome will cope differently with their physical, emotional and social difficulties. Usually, Tourette Syndrome does not limit activities, so people who have Tourette Syndrome can enjoy themselves and pursue their goals and ambitions just as their friends do.

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