Living with Tourette Syndrome

Tourette's syndrome is known as a cursing disease. However, the image people have of this is not correct, because only 13% of the people suffering from Tourette's actually have a cursing tic.

Tourette syndrome

People with Tourette syndrome are characterised by tics. Tourette's is a neuropsychiatric disorder. Yet not everyone who suffers from tics has Tourette syndrome: people with Tourette's suffer from several tics, of which at least one has to be vocal. These tics have to have been present for longer than a year and cannot stop for longer than three months. The tics must also have been determined before the person turns 21. The tics can vary greatly. Some common tics are blinking the eyes, shrugging the shoulders and nodding the head. Vocal tics can be hissing noises, clicking one's tongue, but also cursing and swearing.

How do you get Tourette's?

This syndrome is inherited. Not everyone who inherits Tourette's will actually be troubled by the symptoms. When the child is six years old, it will usually show the first symptoms. Up until they turn 21 the tics will gets worse and worse, then they will become relatively stable.

Treatment?

Treating Tourette syndrome is difficult. All that can be done is diminish the tics. However, people with Tourette's can't do anything about these tics, so it is no use to tell them to stop. They can slowly be cured of them, though. Behaviour therapy can be a solution for this. Medication and cannabis can help diminish the tics. Some people with Tourette's also try alternative medicine. It has not been proved whether this actually works, although some people have had positive experiences with it.

Famous people with Tourette's

Tourette syndrome has existed for a long time. Napoleon probably suffered from it too. There are also signs of Tourette's in Mozart, although back then people simply thought he was rude. Football player David Beckham and actor Dan Aykroyd have also declared to be suffering from Tourette syndrome.

Sources: www.todio.nl