Tourette’s syndrome is a condition that mainly affects a person’s nervous system. Some studies estimate that it affects about 1 out of every 162 children and may even go on until adulthood.
While the public often associates Tourette’s Syndrome with the excessive swearing known as coprolalia, it is important to recognize that this condition is far more than just this one symptom. In fact, there are a variety of different symptoms that are associated with Tourette’s Syndrome, ranging from physical movements to vocalizations.
Motor (Movement) Tics
One of the primary symptoms of Tourette’s Syndrome is motor tics, which involve sudden, uncontrollable muscle movements. These can range from mild to severe, and include simple movements such as facial twitches or eye blinking, to more complex movements such as head jerking, shoulder shrugging, or neck twisting.
In order to identify motor tics in someone with Tourette’s Syndrome, it is important to pay attention to any sudden and repetitive movements that are seemingly involuntary and out of control. These movements should be noted by their frequency and duration, as well as how they affect the person’s ability to carry out everyday tasks.
Vocal Tics
Vocal tics are a symptom of Tourette’s syndrome that involve making sudden, repetitive noises with the mouth or throat. Common examples of vocal tics include grunting, coughing, throat clearing, and barking. They can also be simple or complex; simple vocal tics involve single words or phrases, while complex vocal tics involve multiple words or phrases. Vocal tics can vary in intensity and duration, and may even change over time.
Fortunately, there are a few strategies that can help people with Tourette’s manage their vocal tics. A doctor may recommend medications such as antipsychotics or antidepressants to reduce the intensity of vocal tics. Additionally, there are various behavioral therapies available to teach individuals how to better cope with their vocal tics, such as relaxation techniques and habit reversal therapy.
Repetitive Behaviors
Repetitive behaviors are a symptom of Tourette’s syndrome that can be hard to recognize at first. Repetitive behaviors may include repetitive actions, like tapping, twisting, or shaking, or compulsive behaviors, such as counting, repeating words or phrases, hoarding, or ordering objects in a specific way.
It is important to note that not all people with Tourette’s syndrome will display repetitive behaviors. However, if these behaviors become excessive and interfere with everyday activities, it is important to seek help from a medical professional. A mental health professional can help to assess the severity of the symptoms and develop an effective treatment plan to manage them.
Obsessions
Obsessions are a common symptom of Tourette’s syndrome, and can be harder to identify than tics. Obsessions are intrusive, repetitive thoughts and urges that cause distress and anxiety, and take up a lot of the person’s time. People with Tourette’s syndrome may obsess over certain topics or activities, and feel compelled to do them or talk about them constantly. These activities or topics could include anything from cleaning to sports teams to movies or video games.
The first step to identifying obsessions is to observe the person’s behavior. If they seem stuck on a particular topic or activity, it may be an obsession. Additionally, look out for signs of distress, anxiety, or compulsions that could be associated with the obsession. Ask the person if they’re struggling with any obsessive thoughts or behaviors, and encourage them to get help if needed.
Compulsions
Compulsions are repetitive behaviors, mental activities or rituals that individuals feel compelled to do in order to reduce their anxiety. Compulsions associated with Tourette’s Syndrome can be both physical and mental.
Physical compulsions include motor tics, such as grimacing, eye blinking, head jerking, or body rocking. Mental compulsions include counting, repeating words or phrases, and repetition of thoughts. Compulsions can also be sensory-related, such as touching certain objects or engaging in particular activities that are perceived as calming or comforting.
Sensory Processing Issues
Sensory processing issues are often a sign of Tourette’s syndrome. These issues are related to the way people interpret information through their senses. People with Tourette’s may have heightened sensitivity to certain sensory inputs, such as loud noises, bright lights, certain textures, or certain smells. Other people may experience a decreased sensitivity to these stimuli.
Common symptoms of sensory processing issues include an aversion to certain sounds, smells, or textures; difficulty filtering out background noise; an aversion to or difficulty with physical contact; difficulty in noisy environments; difficulty with coordination and balance; being easily startled or overwhelmed; and feeling fatigued after long exposure to sensory input.
Emotional Outbursts
One of the lesser-known symptoms of Tourette’s syndrome (TS) is emotional outbursts. Individuals with TS may experience sudden and unexpected displays of emotion that can range from intense anger, to fear or even uncontrollable laughing. These emotional outbursts can occur in response to any situation, and are usually disproportionate to the circumstance.
There are certain signs you can look out for when trying to identify an emotional outburst as a symptom of Tourette’s syndrome. These include:
• Unexpected displays of emotion
• An inability to control the emotional reaction
• Outbursts that are disproportionate to the situation
• A feeling of anxiety before or during the outburst
