Can Tourette's Be Treated?

There is currently no cure for Tourette's Syndrome. People who have milder tics may not need to seek any type of treatment, but for those who want it, medications that help manage the condition are available. Neuroleptics such as holoperidol and primozide are the most effective at suppressing tics, while some ADHD drugs, antidepressants, and even anti-hypertensives also help control tics for some people with Tourette's. These medications may not quell the tics a person experiences completely, however, and they can also cause side effects which have to be considered before a decision to use them is made. 

Talk therapy to deal with the social implications of living with tics may be helpful for people with Tourette's as well, and techniques like awareness training and competing response training can help a person with Tourette's Syndrome exercise more control over their tics. 

If you have noticed tics in yourself or your child, a neurologist is the right type of doctor to see. There aren't currently any specific tests for Tourette's Syndrome, so the diagnosis is clinical. You can expect lots of questions about the nature and duration of the tics, and about the circumstances in which tics occur as well as things that may make the tics less frequent. 

 

Since people who have Tourette's Syndrome also suffer from ADHD about 50 percent of the time (doctors aren't sure why yet), questions about the abilities of the person suspected of having Tourette's to focus, and questions about potential hyperactivity, are also part of the diagnostic process. Anxiety, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, and dyslexia are also seen in people with Tourette's more often, so your neurologist will ask you about this as well. 

 

Because other neurological conditions can mimic Tourette's symptoms, an MRI and CT scan may be performed to rule those out before a final diagnosis is made. 

When a person is diagnosed with Tourette's, they and their family will want to explore the possibilities. Medications may be a viable option for some, while they are not necessary or not an option due to concerns over side effects for others. Children with Tourette's may need an Individualized Education Program (IEP) to help them succeed in school, and spreading awareness about the disorder will help peers and classmates understand why tics are an ongoing part of their lives. 

 

Many people with Tourette's find that their tics become much less present once they are out of adolescence, but certainly not all. In I swear I can't help it, several adults with severe Tourette's were featured discussing their everyday challenges in securing jobs, frequenting pubs, and finding love. 

 

No matter what the particular challenges of a person with Tourette's are, they are likely to benefit from a powerful support network in the form of friends and relatives who understand their condition. Meeting other people with Tourette's Syndrome can also be extremely powerful, whether in real life or on the internet. While strangers may stare at someone who engages in random swearing and bodily movements, the reassurance from those who matter most that they see the person, rather that the Tourette's, helps many with this condition enormously.