To post this about Tourette’s

[wombatsandaplant]

After an incident on a plane the other day, I thought I’d do a post about Tourette’s in the hope that people will learn a bit more about it.

I was on a plane the other day and was ticcing as I do, (tics are what the involuntary movements and vocalisations are called). Some woman was less than impressed, she was sitting in the row in front of me, I explained why I was ticcing, she was not having any of it and kept telling me to be quiet. I was trying my hardest to be quiet, which I thought I was doing quite successfully. She complained to the air hostess, I explained to the air hostess and she was very sympathetic and told the woman there was nothing she could do as it was Tourette’s and it’s not voluntary. The woman eventually was quiet after this. I get it’s annoying to others but it’s even more annoying to me. I try to embrace though as I can’t do much else.

I have to deal with various incidents like this on a weekly basis. So I am hoping to educate you a bit so you can understand a bit more about Tourette’s.

So, Tourette’s is a neurological disorder that is inherited usually. There are rover 300,000 people in the uk living with Tourette’s. Tourette’s is characterised by involuntary movements and noises called tics. This can be anything from a shoulder shrug, to an arm flail, to a sniff or a shout. It can also mean swearing (this is called coprolalia, but only 10% of those with Tourette’s will swear (I am one of the 10%). Tics can occur in nearly every muscle in the body. Tics usually start in childhood and vary with severity, sometimes they can be worse and other times they will be better.

Vocal and motor tics (the two types of tic) can cause pain and discomfort. This is both through the premonitory urge and through doing the tic. A pre monitory urge occurs frequently but not always. This is an urge that occurs before a tic. It can be a feeling of pressure build up to a tingling sensation. Sometimes there is no premonitory urge and the tics just happen with no warning.

Tics can sometimes be suppressed for a short time, not everyone can suppress though and it can be very difficult to suppress. Think of like blinking, you can stop blinking for a short time but soon you will have to blink.

Tics can be anything. Motor tics can be anything From arm shrugging to jumping, from finger waggling to head jerks. Vocal tics can be anything from whistling to shouting, from phrases to to a hum. Some tics can be amusing. One of my favourite tics is ‘donkeys are the new unicorns’. Tics can be in context to completely out there.

If you have any questions please feel free to ask them and I’ll do my best to answer them.

Thank you for your post, and I'm sorry you had to deal with the rude woman on the plane.

I have a question: for people whose tics include expletives or insults, is there any truth to the insult, can the tic expose a genuine emotion such as "fuck off"?

I've always presumed that the verbal tic was almost random to the situation, but that anxiety about saying something 'bad' might increase the chances of the bad thing being said.

ThinkPinkStink it’s usually the worst thing you can say at the moment, there is no truth to the insult. The tic is not a genuine emotion.

Thank you for your answer. I'd thought that could be the case, that the fear of saying the worst thing puts the words in your mouth.

I think the same impulse applieds to people without tourettes sometimes (to a much more manageable degree), like "Jeeez imagine if I said XYZ thing" then it becomes a fight not to accidentally say XYZ thing.

Again, I'm sorry you had to deal with her ignorance, please know that a majority of people who have sussed the situation and wouldn't have dreamed of making you uncomfortable.

Applieds is not a word...applies.

Thank you ThinkPinkStink I find most people are very nice or just curious rather than horrible.

My child has tics. Thank you for posting this.

YANBU

My 7yo has tics, and with hindsight has done so since he was teeny.

Do you mind if I ask when you were diagnosed, and what tipped your parents to have it investigated?

People are hideous.

I am autistic and have a whole bunch of motor tics. The looks I get from people sometimes - and I do just want to say 'I can't help it' but you know, the kind of person who is looking, the woman on your plane, they are not the kind of people who would listen even if you did tell them.

Thank you for your post about Tourette's. I am always very tolerant and aware of other people's needs, but I only picked that up because of my autistic behaviours making me one of those who stands out. A lot of people just don't know.

Thanks guys

fluffy I wasnt diagnosed till I was 16 as mine weren't too noticeable or they were passed off as me being cheeky or disruptive. It wasnt till they assessed me for autism that the tics were identified as tics by the psychiatrist.

Thank you for posting - my partner has tourette's and the lack of understanding about the condition drives me potty.

Thanks for posting OP. There was a documentary a few years ago on Tourettes and a man was having a job interview, being interviewed by a woman when he suddenly came out with "nosey bitch" which sounds hilarious but is obviously mortifying if you're the one coming out with it. It's important for people to know the tics aren't what the person is genuinely thinking!

Thank you for posting.

Is there any treatment available? Also, how best can people respond to you when you are experiencing difficulties? I guess some people will struggle to know whether to acknowledge your issues or ignore them?

Great post. Thank you.

Do you get many parents complaining about the swearing? I ask this because I've occasionally (and politely!) asked folk loudly swearing in public to mind their language in front of my DC who's at the parrot stage of toddlerhood. I'd be mortified to learn they couldn't help it and very sorry for drawing attention to it

Great post OP, gives great insight into Tourette's Syndrome and hopefully the more informed people are the less likely it is that you will have to deal with ignorant, rude twats like that woman on the plane.

My son has tics. Currently being investigated. Both verbal (clicking), facial and I think with his feet. he kicks himself constantly, has for years.

He also has a range of developmental issues. I will never ever forget the mother of a friend looking at him once in total disgust and commenting ; 'What on earth is wrong with that child?'

Oddly enough, the kids at school take it in their stride. One of the boys who has a bullying tendency imitated him once and another child scowled and said; 'He can't help it so stop it!'.

So thanks for posting. :)

Thanks for posting, interesting read and a good reminder to be tolerant and attempt to understand people instead of getting annoyed by their audacity in merely existing in public.

Great post - thank you. I don’t really have much to add, but wanted to say how much I love ‘donkeys are the new unicorns!’ I really feel they should be now 🙂

Thank you for posting. Over the last few months my 10 year old niece has been shoulder shrugging, pursing her lips and dropping her eyelid on one eye in succession. I can't be sure but I think she also does a grunt like clearing her throat noise. A few years ago she used to lick her fingers and hands. I only see her once a week and it's really noticeable. Her mother is unconcerned but I don't want her peers noticing and her being bullied because of it.

Matilda theres sort of treatment available. Anti psychotic medication can be used and this sometimes works and some anti seizure meds are also sometimes used.

I prefer people to ignore, or if I laugh then they can laugh too. Sometimes the tics are genuinely funny, other times I'd rather than just be ignored.

Havelock I've had a few people ask if I can stop swearing and I used apologise and try and suppress but now I apologise and explain and most people are okay and apologise others get a bit huffy. I dont mind being asked as I know it's not great.

Thank you for your post and explaining. That woman was very ignorant and rude and I'm sorry you had to experience it. Do you mind me asking if someone is rude, does it upset you more than annoy you about their ignorance iyswim?

Live it tends to upset me a bit but I more get annoyed as people always claim to be not ignorant and kind and stuff but when it comes down to it you always get people that aren't.

Thank you for sharing. My son has tic syndrome and it’s not at all well understood

Thank you for this OP. As the parent of a child with Tourette Syndrome, I'd like people to know that swearing is a rare tic. Because it makes for interesting TV and has shock value, that is what so many people assume the illness is. It's also offensive when people without the condition swear and then joke about having Tourette Syndrome. They wouldn't stumble and joke about having cerebal palsy after all.

People can be really cruel and intolerant as you say OP. DD's teacher in year 3 was wicked, so awful that we moved schools. Her tics improved hugely once she was in a more supportive schooling environment. Interestingly, hers were at their worst as a small child (every few seconds) but now they only appear when she is stressed or really tired. I think that's quite unusual, and most people's wax and wane throughout life