Tourette’s Syndrome is a chronic nervous system condition that causes repetitive movements referred to as “tics” to occur. These tics include motor, vocal, simple and complex tics that cause uncontrollable movements or sounds. They often develop during childhood or adolescence between the ages of 5 and 10 years old and may increase in frequency during adulthood. In other cases, TS may diminish or disappear with age. TS affects approximately 1 in 360 children in the United States.
Symptoms:
Tourette syndrome does not have a known cause, but it is believed to be influenced by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Risk factors include having a family member that suffers from Tourette’s or other tic disorders. Males are three times as likely to develop the syndrome. Some common symptoms include:
- Tics
- Compulsive behavior
- Lack of restraint
- Increased muscle activity