Tourette syndrome is a problem with the nervous system that causes people to make sudden movements or sounds that they cannot control, known as tics. People with this syndrome may have tics such as blinking, touching, shouting and throat clearing. This condition, which can usually occur between the ages of 5 and 9, does not affect the person's daily life too much and in most cases treatment may not be necessary. Treatment aims to control and manage the symptoms and signs.
Men are much more likely to have Tourette's than women. While symptoms usually improve with age, some people may experience complete recovery.
What are the Symptoms of Tourette Syndrome?
The main symptoms of Tourette syndrome are tics. The course of tics that occur in the syndrome may follow a decreasing or increasing course over days, weeks or months. Tics can be simple or complex. Simple tics affect one or a few parts of the body, such as blinking or grimacing. Complex tics involve many parts of the body or saying words.
Other motor tic symptoms can be listed as follows:
- Blinking
- Arm or head shaking
- Eyebrow lift
- Shoulder shrug
- Head nodding or neck rotation
- Jumping
- Jaw movements
- Grimace
- Friction of the teeth
Vocal tic symptoms are as follows:
- Barking or screaming
- Clearing your throat
- Coughing
- Sniffing
- Blasphemy
- Shouting
- Echolalia (repeating sounds, syllables, words or gestures of other people)
- Stuttering
In addition to tics, there may be some conditions and disorders that often accompany this disorder. These can be listed as follows:
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
- Learning Disability (Dyslexia)
- Anxiety Disorder
- Depression
- Impulse Control Disorder
What Causes Tourette Syndrome?
Althoughthe causes of Tourette's syndrome are not fully known, research suggests that there is a relationship with genetic predisposition. There can also be many different causes of this syndrome. Tourette's has been linked to different parts of the brain, including an area called the basal ganglia, which helps control body movements. Differences here can affect nerve cells and the chemicals that carry messages between them.
Research suggests that this disorder of the nervous system may play a role in Tourette's. The child of a patient with Tourette's syndrome has a 50 percent chance of developing the disorder. In addition, between 5 and 15 percent of first-degree relatives of patients are affected. According to DNA research, more than one gene is effective in the emergence of the disorder.
In addition to genetic factors, it has been observed that factors that cause stress also trigger tics. Exam anxiety, stress, fatigue, excitement, panic increase the intensity and frequency of tics. In addition, family pressures can also cause these tics to increase and negatively affect the child's daily life.
How is Tourette Syndrome Diagnosed?
There is no specific test that candiagnose Tourette syndrome. The specialist can make a diagnosis depending on the patient's complaints and symptoms. Some of the criteria used to diagnose the disease are as follows:
- The patient has both motor tics and vocal tics, although not at the same time
- The tics have been present for more than a year and occur almost every day or intermittently, several times a day
- Onset of tics before the age of 18
How is Tourette Syndrome Treatment Applied?
There is no specific method or application forthe treatment of Tourette syndrome. However, the treatment applied to these patients aims to control tics that interfere with daily activities and functionality. Treatment may not be necessary when the tics are not severe. However, if the tics are severe enough to harm the individual and his/her daily life, medication and some psychotherapy techniques can be applied.