Facts About Tourette Syndrome
June 12, 2009 by Peggy Rowland
Filed under Women's Health
If Tourette Syndrome is a mysterious disorder to you, it’s time to lift the curtain on it. Sooner or later, you’ll meet someone affected with the disorder. It’s important to remember that the disorder isn’t anyone’s fault and the person suffering from it sometimes has no control over certain speech and movement.
Tourette Syndrome . . .
• is an inherited neurological disorder
• is characterized by motor tics and vocal or phonic tics (sudden involuntary movements and speech)
• first occurs before 18 years of age
• affects 3 out of every 1,000 children between the age of 6 and 17 in the US
• doesn’t always involve cursing or slurs: Fewer than 15% of cases involve obscenities. (Source: TSA)
According to a new study, Tourette Syndrome diagnosis is three times more common in boys than in girls, and the most common co-occurring condition is ADHD.
Read more about Tourette Syndrome at the National Tourette Syndrome Association (TSA).
(Source unless noted otherwise: CDC; Image via stock.xchng)
