Tourette's+Syndrome

__Background ﻿ __ Tourette's Syndrome is a Neurological Disorder characterized by repetitive, stereotyped, involuntary movements and vocalizations called tics. Its symptoms are often discovered during early childhood between the ages of 7 and 10 years old. TS can occur in all ethnic groups, and is most common among males, there are three to four times more males with TS then females. Although TS can be a chronic condition with symptoms lasting a lifetime, most people with TS experience there worst symptoms in their teen years. 

__Symptoms of TS are as follows:__ **Simple** **Complex** The most dramatic tics are motor movements which cause self harm or vocal tics including coprolalia (uttering swear words) or echolalia (repeating the words or phrases of others)
 * //Motor tics//-Brief repetitive movements that use a small number of muscle groups. Examples: eye blinking, shoulder shrugging, or head jerking.
 * //Vocalization tics//-Making noises repetitively. Examples: Throat clearing, sniffing, or grunting sounds.
 * //Motor tics//-Distinct, coordinated patterns of movement involving several muscle groups. Examples: Facial grimacing combined with a head twist, excessive touching, or hopping/jumping around.
 * //Vocalization tics//-Use of words or phrases

__Causes__ Although the exact cause of TS is unknown many believe that the disease is infact hereditary. It is believed that certain combinations of genetics as well as enviromental factors go into TS. Another thought is that it is caused by certain chemicals in the brain which cause nerve impulses.

__<span style="color: #404040; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> Public Perception __ <span style="color: #404040; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 90%;">Most members of the general public do not understand TS and thus label the disease the "Swearing disease" this label is partially correct, but to label the entire disease based off of one symptom would be just wrong. Also because an individual suffers from tourettes many think that those with the disease are handicapped, but this is accusation is just false.

<span style="color: #404040; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">__Treatments__ <span style="color: #404040; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 90%;">Early diagnosis can help parents understand the the behaviors aren't voluntary or spiteful and that them punishing wont stop them. Medication may help tone down the tics but they wont ever be fully tic free. Also with medications come side effects such as stiffness, weight gain, blurred vision, and sleepiness, to name a few.
 * <span style="color: #404040; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Clonidine
 * <span style="color: #404040; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Clonazepam
 * <span style="color: #404040; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Halopridol
 * <span style="color: #404040; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Pimozide

<span style="color: #404040; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">__Other Common Disorders__
 * <span style="color: #404040; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">ADHD
 * <span style="color: #404040; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Sleep Disorder
 * <span style="color: #404040; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Anxiety Disorders

<span style="color: #404040; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">__Work Cited__ <span style="color: #333333; display: block; font-family: times new roman,times,serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; letter-spacing: 2px; margin-left: 20px; padding-bottom: 20px; padding-left: 20px; padding-right: 20px; padding-top: 20px; text-align: left; text-indent: -20px; width: 350px; word-wrap: break-word;"><span style="color: #404040; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 90%;">"Tourette Syndrome Fact Sheet." //National Institute of Health//. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, 09 Mar 2011. Web. 14 Apr 2011. []. <span style="color: #404040; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 90%;">"Tourette Syndrome." //Mayo Clinic//. Mayo Clinic, 05 Nov 2010. <span style="color: #404040; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 90%;">Web. 15 Apr 2011. <span style="color: #404040; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 90%;">[]. <span style="color: #333333; display: block; font-family: times new roman,times,serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; letter-spacing: 2px; margin-left: 20px; padding-bottom: 20px; padding-left: 20px; padding-right: 20px; padding-top: 20px; text-align: left; text-indent: -20px; width: 350px; word-wrap: break-word;"><span style="color: #404040; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 90%;">Berkow, Robert. "Tourettes Syndrome." //The Merck Manual of Medical Information//. Home. Whitehouse Station, NJ: Merck Research Laboratories, 1997. Print.