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The Characteristics of Tourette's

Tourette Syndrome, or Tourette's, is a mental disorder linked to the nervous system which results in uncontrollable tics. These can be physical or vocal, but the most famous result of tourette's is spontaneous swearing, which sufferers can find leads to isolation and scorn from the rest of society. Despite this, tourette's also has some positive symptoms which can lead to fame for the individual.

  1. Early signs

    • Tourette's syndrome is usually identified between the ages of 5 and 10, but the severity of the condition can change as the child grows up. Many people with tourette's may not even be aware of it, and write off a mild case of the syndrome as merely having a slight tic. Even compulsive sniffing or blinking can be a mild indication of tourette's.

    Muscular tics

    • Muscular tics can take a variety of forms, but are largely defined as rapid, repetitive and unwanted movements of one muscle group. As well as blinking, this could include shrugging, squinting, grimacing, hyperventilating, head nodding or stomach contracting. On top of these, any kind of sudden twitch is also seen as a muscular tic.

    Vocal tics

    • Vocal tics are the symptom that have made tourette's famous. Although a tic could be something as harmless as throat clearing, sniffing, grunting, squeaking or coughing, it can also be particular words or phrases. According to Brainhe, people living with tourette's have described it as trying to control a "monster within." This is because the more they try to control their outbursts, the harder it becomes until they can no longer stop themselves. It is this desire not to swear that makes swearing unavoidable.

    Development

    • Tourette's suffers can have a number of tics or just one, depending on the severity of their condition. Tics can also displace each other in the process known as "waxing and waning." In this situation, one tic will disappear but a new one will appear. Tics can also become more complex, so that one twitching muscle can be replaced by several twitching at once. With vocal tics, meaningless outbursts can develop into full phrases.

    Famous touretters

    • In the U.K. version of the TV show Big Brother, tourette's sufferer Pete Bennett became a source of controversy for broadcaster Channel 4 after some viewers complained he had been chosen for the show as a source of amusement. Others, however, praised him for raising awareness of the condition and he went on to win that series. Other notable touretters include Samuel Johnson, who in 1747 completed "A Dictionary of the English Language," and Swedish DJ Basshunter.

    Positive effects

    • Some people suffering with tourette's have reported positive effects from the condition, as hyperactivity within the brain can lead to heightened musical abilities, recall memory, peripheral perception and concentration. This fits with some of the notable personalities previously mentioned; Pete Bennett and Basshunter both achieved success as musicians and Samuel Johnson is widely considered a genius.

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