Tourette’s Syndrome is an inherited disorder that generally begins in childhood. Tics – sudden repetitive movements or sounds - are the most common characteristic of Tourette’s. These tics vary from patient to patient and often times are not noticeable to other people. While the disorder generally weakens over time, many people continue with various tics such as eye twitching, sniffing, and audible sounds, well into adulthood.
Some studies have found that 1-10 per 1,000 children may have Tourette’s. An even greater number of people have tic disorders, which may include “Transient Tic Disorder” and “Chronic Tic Disorder”. People with Tourette’s are not limited in any way, other than their tics. They are of equal intelligence and share an average life expectancy with non-sufferers.
So, now that we know the frequency of this disorder in the population, lets discuss how often “tics” actually occur. Most tics are involuntary, intermittent, and rapid. They generally occur when there is increased anxiety or sudden urges. So while someone may go quite a while with only very minor tics, as soon as the person is feeling nervous, perhaps in a social situation, the frequency of tics will most likely increase.
The most common age is between 5-7, and the symptoms generally peak at 9-10 years of age. It is important to note that Tourette tics are involuntary and mainly in children. Less than 10% of Tourette’s sufferers show lifelong symptoms. Many people are also able to control their tics for short periods of time. This generally occurs with adults and is certainly learned.