Tourette Syndrome

Tourette Syndrome is characterized by several indicators including muscular tics, vocal or phonic tics, disinhibited thoughts, emotional differences including difficulties in emotional regulation, obsessive compulsions and rituals. The characteristics and frequency of indicators can change throughout a “Touretter’s” life time. The onset of Tourette Syndrome is usually in childhood between the ages of 5 and 10 (average 7) years old. People with Tourette Syndrome have little or no control over the indicators and often describe their TS as having a mind of its own or as a “monster within”. Tics, thoughts and compulsions have a habit of occurring when they are least wanted, and by purposely trying to repress them can make the urge become stronger and stronger until a release becomes inevitable. Tics can be divided into two types muscular tics and vocal tics. Muscular tics are rapid and repetitive movements of one muscle group, such as eye blinking, shoulder shrugging, squinting, or facial grimacing, hyperventilating, head nodding, stomach contracting. Vocal tics are repetitive sounds that can include throat clearing, sniffing, grunting, squeaking, coughing and words or phrases.
Tics often last a short while, and then disappear and become replaced by a different tic. This is a phenomenon called “waxing and waning” by the medical professions. As Tourette Syndrome develops so does the nature of the tics. They become more complex. Simple muscular tics of the head and neck often become complex muscular tics consisting of several muscle groups in one sequence.
There is no cure for Tourette Syndrome. Treatment involves the control of synptoms through educational and psychological interventions or medicine. “The treatment and management of Tourette Syndrome varies from patient to patient and should focus on the alleviation of the symptoms that are most bothersome to the patient or that cause the most interference with daily functioning”(Longe 2006). Counsiling may