Tourette
Syndrome:
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
This area will
contain a growing list of frequently asked
questions and answers. If the
question you have is not answered below, please
order our free Tourette
Syndrome Info-Pak or review the Frequently
Asked Questions webpage of the National
Tourette Syndrome Association. Our Tourette
Syndrome Facts page contains even more
questions & answers.
What
is Tourette Syndrome?
 Tourette
Syndrome is a neurological disorder that strikes
roughly 1 in 1000 children, usually between the
ages of 6 and 9, but can occur as late as 21
years of age. It is more common in boys than it
is in girls, and manifests itself in the form of
facial and/or body "tics." Verbal tics
are much less common in occurrence, but because
of the disturbance and disruption verbal tics
often cause in public, they are the most common
symptom the unknowing public associates with the
disease.
Is
There Medication That Can Help?
The
good news for many TS patients is that their
tics can often be controlled or minimized by
medication. It's important to find a physician
that has experience in treating Tourette
Syndrome patients when considering any treatment
for the disorder, because caution must be taken
in determining the proper dosage levels. To
date, no one medicine has been invented
specifically for TS. The pharmaceuticals that
have been found to minimize tics are normally
used to treat other serious illnesses (i.e.,
high blood pressure). Hence, these drugs can
often cause side effects or present risks
serious enough to cause some TS patients to opt
for living with the tics rather than take
medication.
Will
My Tics Ever Go Away?
Fortunately, for some who suffer with
Tourette Syndrome, the disorder and its tics
disappear sometime between the ages of 20 and 24
-- almost as quickly as the tics first appeared
in childhood. Most are not this lucky. But for
anyone that has lived with Tourette's,
regardless of age, this disorder can often wreak
havoc on the mind and personality of the victim,
and cause pressure and stress in the immediate
household. Children struck by Tourette's often
suffer from emotional problems, embarrassment,
humiliation, various degrees of depression and
loss of self-esteem. And for many Tourette
victims, even the lucky ones who live to see
their tics go away, the teasing and humiliation
they experienced during their youth and the
loneliness or isolation they felt, often
produces emotional scars and self-esteem
destruction that can last a lifetime.
Where
Can I Find a Doctor That Treats Tourette
Syndrome Patients?
This
is by far our most frequently asked
question. The best and quickest way to
find a doctor in your area is to call your local
chapter of the Tourette Syndrome
Association. They keep a list of doctors
in their locale that treat Tourette Syndrome
patients. You can find the TSA chapter
nearest you by clicking
here. We have not had good luck at
getting parents to forward us doctor
recommendations. If you do have a good one
or come across a good one in the future please
forward it to us via email
and I will publish it on our website.
For
more information on Tourette Syndrome, also
check out: [TS
Facts]
[TS
Info] [TS
Medication ] [TS
Research] [TS
Genetics] [TS
News] [TS Articles]
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