Tourette Syndrome (TS)

Tourette Syndrome is an inherited, neurological disorder characterized by repeated involuntary movements and uncontrollable vocal (phonic) sounds called "tics".  In a few cases, such tics can include inappropriate words and phrases.  It is not uncommon for a person with TS to continuously clear his or her throat, cough, sniff, grunt, yelp, bark or shout.  The first symptoms of TS are usually facial tics -- commonly eye blinking.  However, facial tics can also include nose twitching or grimaces.  With time, other motor tics may appear such as head jerking, neck stretching, foot stamping, or body twisting and bending.  A few people with severe TS demonstrate self-harming behaviors such as lip and cheek biting and head banging against hard objects.  However, these behaviors are extremely rare.  Tics alternately increase and decrease in severity, and periodically change in number, frequency, type and location.  Symptoms may subside for weeks or months at a time and later recur.  

People with TS can sometimes suppress their tics for a short time, but the effort is similar to that of holding back a sneeze.  Eventually tension mounts to the point where the tic escapes.  Tics worsen in stressful situations; however they improve when the person is relaxed or absorbed in an activity.  In most cases tics decrease markedly during sleep.  

Though the basic cause of TS is unknown, current research suggests that there is an abnormality in the gene(s) affecting the brain's metabolism of neurotransmitters (chemicals that carry signals from one nerve cell to another).

(For more information on Tourette Syndrome visit http://www.tourettes.com)