Tourettes Syndrome

Tourettes Syndrome is an inherited neurological condition. It affects 1 school child in every 100 and affects more than 300,000 adults and children in the UK. The key features are tics, involuntary and uncontrollable sounds and movements.

In most cases Tourettes Syndrome is linked to other conditions, most often OCD and ADD.

90% of people with Tourettes Syndrome do not swear uncontrollably.

Tourettes Syndrome starts in childhood, however usually half of young people affected will find their symptoms stop by the time they are 18. Tics are often made worse when someone is stressed or under pressure.

What to do

If you suspect that a child may have Tourettes Syndrome, they may require referral onto specialist services for support. Most people with Tourettes Syndrome are not significantly affected by their tics or behaviours, and so do not require medication. Other types of therapy may be helpful e.g. behavioural therapy which can teach the substitution of one tic for another that is more socially acceptable or less painful.

As stress and anxiety can make tics worse please refer to the anxiety link on this page to look at ways of helping the young person reduce these.