TOURETTE SYNDROME

Domenic Rivetti
  Tourette Syndrome, also called
Tourette’s, is a nervous system
disorder involving repetitive
movements or unwanted sounds. It
is a type of Tic disorder. Tics are
uncontrollable, repetitive
movements and vocalizations.

WHAT IS TOURETTE’S?
 Although no one is sure of what causes Tourette’s, current
research points to a problem with how nerves communicate in
the brain. Neurotransmitters – chemicals in the brain that carry
nerve signals from cell to cell – may play a large role.

HOW DO YOU GET TOURETTE’S?

 There are different types of tics that a person with
Tourette’s can experience.
 Simple Tics- Sudden and brief, involve a small amount of
muscle groups.
 Complex Tics- Coordinated pattern of movements that
involve several muscle groups.

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF

TOURETTE’S?
 Motor Tics
Simple Complex
Eye blinking Hopping
Head jerking Stepping in a
 Tics can either involve movement certain pattern
(motor tics) or sounds (vocal tics). Mouth movements Bending or twisting
Different people experience
different tics.
Vocal Tics
Simple Complex
Grunting Repeating one’s
words or phrases
Throat Clearing Repeating other’s
words or phrases
DIFFERENT TYPES OF TICS Coughing Using swear words
 Tourette Syndrome is a genetic condition, meaning it is
passed down from someone’s parents. A person with
Tourette’s has about a 50% chance of passing the
gene to one of their children. Tourette’s is not
contagious and you cannot catch it from someone
who has it.

IS TOURETTE’S GENETIC? DOES IT

SPREAD?
 There is no cure for Tourette’s, and most of the time no
treatment is needed. If tics become problematic or
interfere with basic daily functions, then behavioral
treatment or medication may be considered. Each
person with Tourette’s is unique and experiences
different symptoms than others at a different rate.
Tourette’s is not fatal.

CAN TOURETTE’S BE TREATED/CURED?

  One in 100 children have some form of Tourette
Syndrome.
 Less than ten percent of people with Tourette’s have a
swearing tic.
 Tourette’s does not affect the intelligence of a person. In
fact, most children with Tourette’s have above normal to
high intelligence levels.
 Tics are worse during times of stress or excitement, and
they are more controllable at calmer times.
 Tourette’s developes in males 3 to 4 times more than
females.

FACTS ABOUT TOURETTE’S

 https://www.tourette.org/about-tourette/overview/treatment/
 https://www.ninds.nih.gov/Disorders/Patient-Caregiver-
Education/Fact-Sheets/Tourette-Syndrome-Fact-Sheet
 https://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/diseases/7783/tourette-
syndrome

REFERENCES