An overview of Tourette syndrome
Repetitive, involuntary movements and vocalizations are the factors which characterize Tourette syndrome. It is a neurological disorder whose early symptoms become noticeable in children between the age of 3 to 9 years. It can occur to anyone, but men are more likely to be affected than women. This chronic condition lasts for a lifetime, and people experience the worst symptoms in their early teens. Patients may experience improvement in their condition from their late teens, which may continue into adulthood. It is a disorder that involves several physical tics and at least one vocal tic. A tic is an atypical movement or sound that a person has little or no control over. This may include eye blinking, coughing, throat clearing, sniffing, facial movements, head movements, or limb movements with unusual and unpredictable sounds. The tics that produce movement are called motor tics, and the tics which produce sound are called vocal tics. During early adulthood, the tics usually become less severe; but, this may get worse as the person moves into adulthood. The intensity of both minor and major tics tends to fluctuate. When a person is facing physical, emotional, or mental stress, the tics become more frequent. The main thing to understand about tics associated with Tourette syndrome is that they are the result of a neuropsychiatric condition.