Tourette syndrome is a neurological disorder characterized by repeated involuntary movements and uncontrollable vocal sounds. These are called tics. Some patients, besides involuntary movements and uncontrollable vocal sounds express the disorder by inappropriate words and phrases.
Most of the time, the disorder is inherited. It is thought that there is an abnormal gene that’s affecting neurotransmitters, chemicals in the brain that have communicating function between nerve cells.
If just one of the parents has an abnormal gene, a child has 50% chances of inheriting it.
Even if a child inherits the gene, it doesn’t necessarily mean that he would develop TS.
TS can express itself in different ways. It could be a mild tic disorder but it could go as far as ADD with or without tics, it could express itself as obsessive compulsive disorder in which a person is obsessing constantly about one thing and doing things in order to stop it. For example, a person may fear that he/she would catch a disease and keeps washing their hands all over again in order to prevent it.
However, there are cases where there is no genetic link or at least it can’t be found. So, the cause of their problem is not known and it is called sporadic Tourette syndrome.
Now, regarding ADD and problems with your grandchildren, there is an explanation.
I havealready mentioned that some children have only tics while other may have additional problems like ADD, obsessive compulsive behavior, learning disabilities, inability to control their impulses, may suffer from sleeping disorders, etc
So, the medications your grandchildren are taking are to help them deal with their problems, mostly ADD since there are no medications to treat Tourette syndrome.
Most of the time, the disorder is inherited. It is thought that there is an abnormal gene that’s affecting neurotransmitters, chemicals in the brain that have communicating function between nerve cells.
If just one of the parents has an abnormal gene, a child has 50% chances of inheriting it.
Even if a child inherits the gene, it doesn’t necessarily mean that he would develop TS.
TS can express itself in different ways. It could be a mild tic disorder but it could go as far as ADD with or without tics, it could express itself as obsessive compulsive disorder in which a person is obsessing constantly about one thing and doing things in order to stop it. For example, a person may fear that he/she would catch a disease and keeps washing their hands all over again in order to prevent it.
However, there are cases where there is no genetic link or at least it can’t be found. So, the cause of their problem is not known and it is called sporadic Tourette syndrome.
Now, regarding ADD and problems with your grandchildren, there is an explanation.
I havealready mentioned that some children have only tics while other may have additional problems like ADD, obsessive compulsive behavior, learning disabilities, inability to control their impulses, may suffer from sleeping disorders, etc
So, the medications your grandchildren are taking are to help them deal with their problems, mostly ADD since there are no medications to treat Tourette syndrome.
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after reading some of this post, I have to include my story to see if it's the same, my grandson, has been having what we thought were seizures for about 6 months now, meds have no effect at all. His episodes occur 7 to 8 times a day. He currently doesn't know any curse/swear words so his tics aren't accompanied by swearing but they include grunts and are normally accompanied by laughing/giggling to himself. Most of the time he can continue with the activity but is definetly affected by the episodes. He had infantile spasms as an infant which he eventually outgrew and it definetly hurt us alot when he started having these seizures/episodes/tics. from what we can tell they aren't painfull and we've come to accept them but just make sure he's not in a position to hurt himself or others when they occur
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What a terrible situation for you hugheskw, I feel for you and will send some prayers your way and all the others. I hope he outgrows this phase as well.
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Hi, i am 24 years old and since the age of a about 12 i have had a facial tick ( nose twitching ) I saw my doctor about this approx 5 years ago and he dismissed it as nerves. but recently i have started having involentry movement ( jerking my head and sholders ) if i try to stop it gets worse and its making my life hell. again i saw my doctor who this time put it down to anxiety. i have tried all sorts of herbal anxiety pills but nothing works. Do u think i have tourrets
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Hi nickthaquick. i have found that when my ticks get bad i get a retractable pen and just click away at it. its a good form of relief for me and its not something that causes much attention which is something that makes my ticks worse ( when people r looking at me ) hope this helps 4 u to x
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Hey i'm 13 years old and I have been experiencing tics (head jerking) for about 2 weeks now. Could this just be temporary or is it turrets?
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helow.just to let u know i do not have turrets.my friend has turrets but my parens think he is on drugs because he has a tic. im going to web sites righting down symptoms to show to my parents.is ther any thing else i can do to help.
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for those of u that think you may have touretts syndrome:
i don't know if this goes for all ppl w/ tourettes but i find that if someone brings up the fact that i twich my head i will then start to think about my own symptoms and will twitch a lot more than normal untill the thought of doing it passes out of mind
also, if you have tourettes, you do not have to have both phsical and vocal symptoms (coperalia is the vocal part of touretts) and the vocal aspect is not only cursing but could be as simple as saying NO, NO, NO
I have a head twich, clear my throat, and to a lesser extent twiching other joints and fingers
i don't know if this goes for all ppl w/ tourettes but i find that if someone brings up the fact that i twich my head i will then start to think about my own symptoms and will twitch a lot more than normal untill the thought of doing it passes out of mind
also, if you have tourettes, you do not have to have both phsical and vocal symptoms (coperalia is the vocal part of touretts) and the vocal aspect is not only cursing but could be as simple as saying NO, NO, NO
I have a head twich, clear my throat, and to a lesser extent twiching other joints and fingers
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if you have turrets syndrom and your pregnant do you pass it on? :-(
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i have many tics that i can control but i feel as i need to say something like.. an urge persay. does this fit the discription of turrets?
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I am a middle teacher and just had a student transfer into my class that has been diagnosed with turretz. Does anyone have any suggestions how to best deal with a child that has this? All of the teachers who have him are struggling on how to work with him.
Frustrated Teacher
Frustrated Teacher
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I've been reading sites learning about Tourettes because my 12 year old granddaughter has been making noises and doing odd opposite eye blinking, and winking for about 15 months now. I'm sufficiently convinced its Tourettes. Does it require a Doctor to diagnose? Her main problem is now that school has recommenced for the year, she now has 8 new teachers who all want to kick her out of class for making noises. She is notably louder right now. I don't feel compelled to seek "treatment" since there is no cure. Best thing I can do for her is help her to accept it and deal with other people's reactions.
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My 12 yr old granddaughter has been making noises (clearing throat, grunts, and peeps) and doing odd blinking (opposite eyes blink one after the other for several minutes, uncontrollable winks) for about 15 months now. I'm sufficiently convinced it's Tourettes. Is there really any reason to have a doctor diagnose it since there's no cure? Main problem is now that school has recommenced, she has 8 new teachers who want to throw her out of class for making noise and she doesn't want to tell anyone she has Tourettes. Any suggestions on coping skills? I know it's going to get worse.
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My boyfriend has the "ticks" while watching tv or in a movie theater, his eyes blink and his check twitches. If he is at home watching tv and riding his exercise bike, he does all of the above plus shakes his head. I sat and watched him while riding the bike and watching a movie and he could go no longer than 6-7 seconds before the twitches/tics happened again. When he is not watching tv, he constantly clears his throat or has a dry cough. He has a squeeky noise he makes when he seems to be stressed or under pressure but thinks he is hiding this. I really do not know if he is aware he is doing any of this. Does this fit this disease? His biggest problems are when he is watching tv or in a movie theater.
Thanks!
Sandy in Kansas City
Thanks!
Sandy in Kansas City
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Hi, I've been wondering if I might have tourettes. I think I randomly blurt out things, that sometimes don't make any sense and sometimes are relevant to the situation and really awful. I don't shout or curse, and emotionally it ranges from sudden, spiteful anger to apathetic sadness. It's stuff that shocks me but that I can't control, and usually happens when I'm stressed out or uncomfortable, and not really thinking about anything. I think I may have physical ticks too, but I never really noticed them because they didn't cause much trouble: leg shaking, shuddering, eye twitching, etc. I first noticed the verbal ticks at around 19 (which seems pretty old compared to your stories), and they don't happen often. So far as I know nobody else in my family has this problem.
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