| Tourette's syndrome is a neurological disorder (a | | | | complex. Simple motor tics are sudden, brief, |
| problem with the nervous system), in which the | | | | repetitive movements that involve a limited |
| major symptom is tics. If you have Tourette | | | | number of muscle groups. Some of the more |
| syndrome, you make unusual movements or | | | | common simple tics include eye blinking and other |
| sounds, called tics. You have little or no control | | | | vision irregularities, facial grimacing, shoulder |
| over them. Common tics are throat-clearing and | | | | shrugging, and head or shoulder jerking. Simple |
| blinking. You may repeat words, spin, or, rarely, | | | | vocalizations might include repetitive |
| blurt out swear words. Tourette syndrome (also | | | | throat-clearing, sniffing, or grunting sounds. |
| called Tourette's syndrome, Tourette's disorder, | | | | Complex tics are distinct, coordinated patterns of |
| Gilles de la Tourette syndrome, GTS or, more | | | | movements involving several muscle groups. |
| commonly, simply Tourette's or TS) is an | | | | Complex motor tics might include facial grimacing |
| inherited neurological disorder with onset in | | | | combined with a head twist and a shoulder shrug. |
| childhood, characterized by the presence of | | | | Other complex motor tics may actually appear |
| multiple physical (motor) tics and at least one | | | | purposeful, including sniffing or touching objects, |
| vocal (phonic) tic; these tics characteristically wax | | | | hopping, jumping, bending, or twisting. Simple vocal |
| and wane. Tourette's is defined as part of a | | | | tics may include throat-clearing, sniffing/snorting, |
| spectrum of tic disorders, which includes transient | | | | grunting, or barking.Treatment of Tourettes |
| and chronic tics.Transient tic disorder consists of | | | | SyndromeAfter much reading and research in the |
| multiple motor tics, phonic tics or both, with a | | | | area of alternative treatment for such neurological |
| duration of between four weeks and twelve | | | | disorders as Tourette Syndrome and ADHD, I |
| months. Chronic tic disorder is either single or | | | | have become convinced that alternative or holistic |
| multiple, motor or phonic tics (but not both), which | | | | treatment does work in some cases. Over the |
| are present for more than a year. Simple vocal | | | | past 3 years I have received email from many |
| tics may include throat-clearing, sniffing/snorting, | | | | parents claiming good to excellent results using |
| grunting, or barking. More complex vocal tics | | | | natural remedies to treat their child's Tourette |
| include words or phrases. Some tics are preceded | | | | Syndrome and I have read of similar accounts |
| by an urge or sensation in the affected muscle | | | | with ADD and ADHD. Neuroleptics are the most |
| group, commonly called a premonitory urge. Some | | | | consistently useful medications for tic suppression; |
| with TS will describe a need to complete a tic in a | | | | a number are available but some are more |
| certain way or a certain number of times in order | | | | effective than others (for example, haloperidol |
| to relieve the urge or decrease the sensation. | | | | and pimozide).Effective medications are also |
| Neuroleptics are the most consistently useful | | | | available to treat some of the associated |
| medications for tic suppression; a number are | | | | neurobehavioral disorders that can occur in |
| available but some are more effective than | | | | patients with TS.Stimulants currently |
| others (for example, haloperidol and pimozide). | | | | contraindicates the use of these drugs in children |
| Specific behavioral treatments that include | | | | with tics/TS and those with a family history of |
| awareness training and competing response | | | | tics.Serotonin reuptake inhibitors (clomipramine, |
| training, such as voluntarily moving in response to | | | | fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, paroxetine, and sertraline) |
| a premonitory urge, have shown effectiveness in | | | | have been proven effective in some |
| small controlled trials.CausesThe exact cause of | | | | patients.Other medications may also be useful for |
| Tourette's syndrome is unknown, but it appears | | | | reducing tic severity, but most have not been as |
| to be linked to the gene or genes that control the | | | | extensively studied or shown to be as |
| chemicals that carry signals from one brain cell to | | | | consistently useful as neuroleptics. Additional |
| another. About a third of people with the disorder | | | | medications with demonstrated efficacy include |
| have relatives with Tourette's, while another third | | | | alpha-adrenergic agonists such as clonidine and |
| have family members with milder tic | | | | guanfacine.Psychotherapy can't make Tourette's |
| disorders.Families of people with Tourette's | | | | syndrome disappear, but it can help people learn |
| syndrome also tend to have a higher incidence of | | | | to cope with the social and emotional problems |
| obsessive-compulsive behaviors and attention | | | | that often result. Because tics tend to worsen |
| deficit-hyperactivity disorder.Signs and Symptoms | | | | with stress, relaxation techniques can help reduce |
| of Tourettes SyndromeWhat are the | | | | the frequency and severity of Tourette's |
| symptoms?Tics are classified as either simple or | | | | symptoms. |