Date: May 15- June 15, 2022
June is Tourette Syndrome Awareness Month.
What is Tourette Syndrome?
According to the Tourette Association of America, tics are involuntary, repetitive movement and vocalizations. They are the defining feature of a group of childhood-onset, neurodevelopmental conditions known collectively as Tic disorders and individually as Tourette Syndrome.
Tics are common in childhood. The estimated prevalence of Tourette Syndrome disorder range from 3 to 8 per, 1,000 in school-aged children. Males are more commonly affected than females. Some people may have tic-free periods of weeks to months.
There are three types:
- Motor tics cause a movement including eye blinking, facial grimacing, jaw movements, and head bobbing
- Vocal/phonic tics produce a sound including throat clearing, grunting, hooting, and shouting
- Provisional tic disorders involve a person who experiences involuntary motor and/or verbal tics for one year.
Signs and Symptoms:
Tic Disorders:
- eye blinking
- coughing
- throat clearing
- sniffing
- facial movement
- shoulder shrugging
Vocal Tics:
- barking or yelping
- grunting
- repeating what someone else says
- shouting
- sniffing
- swearing
Co-Occurring Disorders Include:
- Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
- Obsessive -Compulsive Disorder
- Learning difficulties
- Behavior problems
- Anxiety
- Mood problems
- Sleeping issues
- Social skills and deficits
Resources:
Ways to raise awareness: Participate in Awareness Month – Tourette Association of America
