Disorders
Common types of neurodivergence in young people. Natural differences in brain wiring that affect learning, communication, and interaction, bringing both strengths and challenges.
Tourette’s Syndrome(TS)
a neurodevelopmental disorder causing sudden, repetitive, involuntary movements or sounds called tics, which can range from simple (blinking, throat clearing) to complex (jumping, repeating words).
Prevalence
Studies estimate that 1 out of 162 children have TS.
About this disorder
Tourette Syndrome is a neurodevelopmental disorder that becomes evident in early childhood or adolescence. It is characterized by repetitive, involuntary body movements (motor tics) or sounds (vocal tics) that people find difficult to control, often preceded by an uncomfortable urge and relieved by the tic itself.
Tics are quick, involuntary movements or sounds you can’t control, such as blinking or shoulder shrugging for motor tics, and making noises like grunting for vocal tics. They can happen anywhere in the body and often change over time. Tics usually start with a feeling or urge that builds up, and while some people can delay them, it can lead to discomfort that is only relieved by performing the tic. Many people with Tourette Syndrome lead productive lives and the condition often improves with age.
Common symptoms
The main symptom of Tourette syndrome is tics.
Tics involving sounds may include:
- Whistling
- Sniffing or clearing your throat a lot
- Making animal sounds
- Repeating a sound, word or phrase
- Swearing (rarer)
Tics involving movement may include:
- Rolling your eyes or blinking
- Shrugging your shoulders
- Jerking or twitching movements
- Tensing your stomach muscles
- Jumping
Disadvantages
Some tics themselves can be harmful, like motor tics that cause self-injury or painful movements. A vocal tic called coprolalia involves swearing or saying inappropriate things, making it seem like someone is being rude on purpose, even though they can’t control it. Children with coprolalia might get unfair punishments at school or home and may also face bullying.
Severe tics can affect quality of life. They can impact your ability to communicate and do daily tasks.
People with Tourette Syndrome may experience learning differences, disabilities, or developmental delays that affect their ability to learn. Additionally, conditions like ADHD and OCD often occur alongside TS, which can result in intrusive thoughts and compulsive actions that can cause difficulty at school, home, or with friends.
Advantages
In 2018, researchers found that people with Tourette Syndrome (TS) tend to have good psychosocial functioning, achieve important social goals, and report a high quality of life. Further research reports enhanced cognitive control, where studies show that the ongoing challenge of managing tics can improve the brain’s ability to process information and adjust behavior. Additionally, some preliminary studies suggest that children with TS may have advantages in verbal skills, particularly in sound assembly and grammar processing.
Famous people with Tourette’s
- Billie Eilish
- Howie Mandel
- Lewis Capaldi
- Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart