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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

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There are many misbeliefs about Tourette syndrome (or Tourette for short) that make life harder for people with the condition. Knowing the facts can help you understand what it is like to have Tourette.
Tourette syndrome is a condition that affects the brain and nerves, causing people to make repeated movements and sounds, also known as motor and vocal tics, that they cannot control. The symptoms usually begin in childhood, can vary from mild to severe, and change over time. Tourette can cause problems for children's physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Education can help reduce negative beliefs about Tourette, improve access to health care, ensure a timely diagnosis, and ultimately help children with Tourette lead healthy and productive lives.

Read about the symptoms and diagnosis of Tourette.
As part of CDC's work to educate people about the condition and to celebrate Tourette Syndrome Awareness month here are five things you may not know about Tourette. #1 People with Tourette don't always blurt out obscenities.
Probably the most common misbelief about Tourette, often seen on TV and in movies, is that people with the condition blurt out obscenities or curse words. The reality is that most people with Tourette do not excessively or uncontrollably use inappropriate language. Known as coprolalia, this only affects about 1 in 10 people with Tourette. Coprolalia is a complex tic that is difficult to control or suppress, and people who have this tic often feel embarrassed by it.
#2 Just having a tic doesn't mean that you have Tourette.
Tics-making sounds (vocal tics) or movements (motor tics) that are difficult to control or suppress-are a part of having Tourette, but there is more to the story. Having a tic is complicated. A person can have tics ranging from simple, temporary tics lasting a few weeks or months, to having many complex tics that are long-lasting. Tics can also range from mild and hardly noticeable to severe and disabling. To have Tourette means that a person has at least two different motor tics and at least one vocal tic, and has had tics for over a year.
#3 People with Tourette cannot control their tics (movement or sound) even though they may want to.
Having a tic is hard to control. The motor and vocal tics of Tourette are involuntary, meaning that people do not do the tic on purpose. While the exact cause of tics is still not known, many people compare the feeling of having a tic to having an itch or having to sneeze. You may try to stop the feeling, but eventually you will probably scratch or sneeze and you will feel a little better until the urge comes back. When people try to hold back their tics, it can cause stress and the tic may become worse.
#4 People with Tourette often lead rich and fulfilling lives.
It is true that some people with Tourette have difficulties throughout their lives. It is also true that many people with Tourette are very successful. They are often high achievers and find that their tics can become less severe or go away when they are concentrating on a task at hand. Many people also have fewer tics as they grow up. There are people with Tourette who are successful in all walks of life and they work in many areas, including the arts, medicine, sports, and other professions.
#5 CDC works with researchers and the Tourette community to improve the lives of people with the condition and their families.
CDC is working with researchers to expand our knowledge of Tourette, how it affects people's lives, and how we can advance public health efforts to improve the lives and health of people living with Tourette. CDC also works with the Tourette Association of America to provide health information and education programs about Tourette , so that people with the condition can get the best available treatment and support. This work includes

Increasing awareness and understanding of Tourette:
CDC is partnering with the Tourette Association of America to provide health education and training to healthcare providers, educators, families, and youth about Tourette.

Developing and disseminating information and materials on the best evidence about care for and living with Tourette:

Improving access to quality care for people with Tourette:

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There are many misbeliefs about Tourette syndrome (or Tourette for short) that make life harder for people with the condition. Knowing the facts can help you understand what it is like to have Tourette.

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What does treatment look like?

Treatment for tic disorders is individualized to meet the needs of your child. One of the most effective treatments for tic disorders is a therapy known as Cognitive Behavioral Intervention for Tics (CBIT). This is an established treatment that teaches children to change their behavior by being more aware of the situations that trigger tics, having a better understanding of the urge and the tic, learning strategies to resist the urge, and practicing things to do instead. The therapist will work with collaboratively with you and your child through each step of the process.

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Tic Disorder Therapy for Children | Child Therapist - Jacksonville, FL

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We provide tic disorder (Tourette's Disorder) treatment and therapy for children in Jacksonville and St. Augustine, FL. Contact us today for a consultation.

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Deep Brain stimulation, dbs, options for tourette

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Deep brain stimulation or dbs treatment for patients with tourette syndrome, dbs therapy for tics and tourette, new treatments for tourette

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managing tics in the classroom for students with tourette

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Managing tics in the classroom, strategies for managing tourette in classroom, co-occurring conditions, adhd, ocd, anxiety

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10 Things Teachers Can Do For Students
with Tourette Syndrome

It may surprise you to learn that you probably have taught a student with Tourette Syndrome (TS), and will likely again. Often teachers and school personnel, as well as physicians and families, miss the symptoms that are associated with TS. Studies estimate that 1 in 160 (0.6%) school-aged children in the United States have TS.

Remember, a child with TS is a person first...who happens to have TS. As an education professional, it is important to remain curious regarding how to teach and be supportive of a student with this complex neurodevelopmental disorder. While every student is unique, the following are general suggestions that may help a student who has TS or tics, to attain academic and social success.

1.Recognize that tics are involuntary movements and sounds that wax and wane and can change unpredictably. In many cases, students with TS will attempt to suppress their tics to avoid negative attention from others. While the tics may appear to be within the students' control and are being done purposefully, they are not.

2. Reduce Stress/Anxiety. Stress typically increases symptoms. Therefore, noting what factors increase stress and implementing appropriate accommodations or special education services will frequently reduce symptoms.

3. Identify the skills deficits that may contribute to increased stress/symptoms, as well as the strategies and supports to address the skills deficits.

4. Ignore the symptoms that can be ignored. This demonstrates acceptance and normalizes Tourette Syndrome and other related symptoms. Modeling acceptance can reduce both bullying and stress and may help the student with TS to focus his/her energy on academics rather than tic suppression.

5. Consider whether accommodations are needed for handwriting issues. Handwriting issues are among the most common difficulties for children with TS. Accommodations can include the use of a computer, tablet, a scribe, or having notes provided.

6. Be aware of co-occurring conditions, such as Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) or Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), which are very common for students with TS. The characteristics of these conditions are often more problematic and harder to manage than the tics themselves.

7. Be creative with interventions. Teaching life-long strategies and providing supports, accommodations, and modifications are typically more effective than relying on consequences.

8. Involve the student with TS in developing plans and strategies for managing symptoms that can be difficult or impossible to ignore.

9. Promote communication with parents or caregivers. Be sure to share the student's achievements and strengths, not just the weaknesses.

10. Use the Association's resources for assistance in developing supports and strategies.
To assist educators, The Tourette Association offers a variety of programs and materials designed to help with recognition and management of TS symptoms (tics) in the classroom and school environment.

The information presented in this material was supported by Grant/Cooperative Agreeent Number CDC-RFA-DD13-1302 from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the CDC. The information is intended for the reference of and use by medical and allied professionals and educators. The material is displayed with the permission of the authors/publishers.

Lea este artículo en español

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10 Things Teachers Can Do For Students with Tourette Syndrome

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It may surprise you to learn that you probably have taught a student with Tourette Syndrome (TS), and will likely again. Often teachers and school personnel, as well as physicians and families, miss the symptoms that are associated with TS. Studies estimate that 1 in 160 (0.6%) school-aged children in the United States have TS.

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Latest technology for students with Tourette

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Speaker: Marge Henning, MS, OTR/L Topic: Latest technology for students with Tourette Key Takeaways: * Tics and associated disorders can interfere visual focus and attention while reading. * Many students with TS struggle with handwriting and notetaking.

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Exploring Life with Tourette Syndrome: Facing Challenges at School (Comic Book) - Tourette Association of America

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Exploring Life with Tourette Syndrome: Facing Challenges at School (Comic Book)

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Join the Tourette Association, our local support group and the Norman Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases at UF Health in supporting the mission to raise awareness for Tourette syndrome and Tic Disorders.

May 15 - June 15 is recognized as the Tourette Association Awareness Month. During this time, we pledge to support advocacy, awareness and education through events and togetherness.

Friday, May 19 at 5:30pm

We will return to our traditional wall painting event to paint the 34th Street Wall.

Bring your own spray paint and brushes, but Heather will supply the back wall teal paint.

Look forward to seeing you all there.

Email Heather for Questions.

Spread The Word Through Social Media

SPREAD THE WORDS:
"Tourette is uncontrollable but I am UNSTOPPABLE!"
"I have Tourette but I am UNSTOPPABLE. What makes you UNSTOPPABLE?"

SPREAD THE HASHTAGS:
#uncontrollableunstoppable
#touretteawareness
#tourette
#tics
#TAA50

Wear Teal Tuesdays

Cover yourself in teal from head to toe and get noticed for awareness.

Get creative and post your pictures on social media! Clothes, ties, bracelets, buttons, hair, nail polish, face paint - get all in for awareness!

Virtual

The TAA's virtual conference is from May 19-20, 2023.

The first day will be dedicated to our annual Research Symposium and the second day to our Family, Youth and Education Conference. Your all-inclusive registration entitles you to attend both exciting events.

Learn More and Register.

Posted in

Tagged as

Tourette, tourette awareness

Tourette Tips, Uncategorized

Friday, May 19 at 5:30pm

We will return to our traditional wall painting event to paint the 34th Street Wall.

Bring your own spray paint and brushes, but Heather will supply the back wall teal paint.

Look forward to seeing you all there.

Email Heather for Questions.

Spread The Word Through Social Media

SPREAD THE WORDS:
"Tourette is uncontrollable but I am UNSTOPPABLE!"
"I have Tourette but I am UNSTOPPABLE. What makes you UNSTOPPABLE?"

SPREAD THE HASHTAGS:
#uncontrollableunstoppable
#touretteawareness
#tourette
#tics
#TAA50

Wear Teal Tuesdays

Cover yourself in teal from head to toe and get noticed for awareness.

Get creative and post your pictures on social media! Clothes, ties, bracelets, buttons, hair, nail polish, face paint - get all in for awareness!

Virtual

The TAA's virtual conference is from May 19-20, 2023.

The first day will be dedicated to our annual Research Symposium and the second day to our Family, Youth and Education Conference. Your all-inclusive registration entitles you to attend both exciting events.

Learn More and Register.

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Tourette Awareness Month " Norman Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases " University of Florida

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Join the Tourette Association, our local support group and the Norman Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases at UF Health in supporting the mission to raise awareness for Tourette syndrome and Tic Disorders. May 15 - June 15 is recognized as the Tourette Association Awareness Month. During this time, we pledge to support advocacy, awareness and...

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Tourette's syndrome & tic disorders - definition, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment

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Tourette syndrome is a condition that causes uncontrolled sudden, repetitive muscle movements and sounds known as tics.

Tourette symptoms typically appear in childhood, usually when kids are between 5-9 years old. It's not very common, and boys are more likely to be affected than girls.

The tics associated with Tourette syndrome tend to get milder or go away entirely as kids grow into adulthood. Until that happens, though, parents can help their child cope with the condition.

About Tics

Two types of tics are associated with Tourette syndrome:

1. Motor tics - sudden, apparently uncontrollable movements such as exaggerated eye blinking, grimacing, head jerking, or shoulder shrugging

2. Vocal tics - such as repeated throat clearing, sniffing, or humming

Tics are classified as either simple or complex:

Simple motor tics usually involve just one group of muscle, such as eye blinking or grimacing.

Complex motor tics usually involve more muscle groups and might look like a series of movements. For example, someone might touch a body part or another person repeatedly. In rare cases, people with Tourette syndrome might have a tic that makes them harm themselves, such as head banging.

Simple vocal tics can be throat clearing, sniffing, or grunting.

Complex vocal tics can involve calling out, repeating other people's words (a condition called echolalia), or involuntary swearing (called coprolalia).

At certain times, like when someone is under stress, the tics can become more severe, happen more often, or last longer. Or, the type of tic may change.

Some kids can hold back their tics for a short time. But as tension builds, it eventually has to be released as a tic. And if a person is concentrating on controlling the tic, it may be hard to focus on anything else. This can make it hard for kids with Tourette syndrome to have a conversation or pay attention in class.

Causes

Tourette syndrome is a genetic disorder, which means it's the result of a change in genes that's either inherited (passed on from parent to child) or happens during development in the womb.

The exact cause of Tourette syndrome isn't known, but some research points to changes in the brain and problems with how nerve cells communicate. An upset in the balance of neurotransmitters (chemicals in the brain that carry nerve signals from cell to cell) might play a role.

Many kids and teens with Tourette syndrome have other behavioral conditions like earning disabilities, or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), l anxiety.

Diagnosis and Treatment

To be diagnosed with Tourette syndrome, a child must have several different types of tics - specifically, multiple motor tics and at least one vocal tic - for at least a year. They may happen every day or from time to time throughout the year.

A child with Tourette symptoms may need to see a neurologist, a doctor who specializes in problems with the nervous system. The neurologist may ask the child's parents to keep track of the kinds of tics involved and how often they happen.

There isn't a specific diagnostic test for Tourette syndrome - instead, the health care provider diagnoses it after taking a family history, medical history, looking at the symptoms, and doing a physical exam. Sometimes, imaging tests like magnetic resonance imaging tests (MRIs), computerized tomography (CT) scans, electroencephalograms (EEGs), or blood tests can rule out other conditions that might cause symptoms similar to Tourette syndrome.

Just as Tourette syndrome is different for every person, treatment can be different, too. While there isn't a cure for Tourette syndrome, most tics don't get in the way of day-to-day life. If they do, doctors may suggest medicines to help control symptoms.

Tourette syndrome is not a psychological condition, but doctors sometimes refer kids and teens to a psychologist or psychiatrist. Seeing a therapist won't stop their tics, but it can help to talk to someone about their problems, cope with stress better, and learn relaxation techniques. A therapist also can help them with any other problems, like ADHD, OCD, and/or anxiety.

Tics usually are most severe before the mid-teen years. Most people see great improvement in their late teens to early adulthood, though some will have their tics continue into adulthood.

Dealing With Tourette Syndrome

Many people don't understand what Tourette syndrome is or what causes it, so they might not know how to act around someone who has tics. If people stare or comment, kids and teens with Tourette syndrome can feel embarrassed and frustrated. Someone who has it might have to explain the condition to others or deal with teasing or gawking.

These tips can help kids with Tourette syndrome cope:

Get involved. Some experts say that when kids and teens are engrossed in an activity, their tics are milder and less frequent. Sports, exercise, or hobbies are great ways for kids to focus mental and physical energy.

Lend a helping hand. Dealing with Tourette syndrome often makes kids and teens more understanding of other people's feelings, especially other young people with problems. They might use that special sensitivity tovolunteer. Knowing that they've helped others might help build confidence and lessen any self-consciousness about feeling different.

Embrace creativity. Creative activities such as writing, painting, or making music help focus the mind on other things - and they help it develop.

Find support. The Tourette Syndrome Association sponsors support groups with others who understand the challenges of Tourette syndrome.

Take control. People with Tourette syndrome can feel more in control of their lives by researching the condition, asking their doctors plenty of questions, and taking an active role in their treatment.

Each person with Tourette syndrome will cope differently with its physical, emotional, and social challenges. Tourette syndrome doesn't have to disrupt everyday life, though, and kids who have it can enjoy doing the same things as other kids.

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Tourette syndrome is a condition that causes uncontrolled sudden, repetitive muscle movements and sounds known as tics. Tourette symptoms typically appear in childhood, usually when kids are between 5-9 years old. It's not very common, and boys are more likely to be affected than girls.

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Tourette Syndrome is one type of Tic Disorder. Tics are involuntary, repetitive movements and vocalizations. Tic Disorders are distinguished by the types...

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Treating Kids With OCD and Tourette’s - Child Mind Institute

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Dr. Barbara Coffey talks about how treating OCD effectively can have a profound effect on tic symptoms.

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Exploring Life with Tourette Syndrome: Facing Challenges at Home (Comic Book) - Tourette Association of America

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Exploring Life with Tourette Syndrome: Facing Challenges at Home (Comic Book)