Tourette's Syndrome involves involuntary movements or sounds called tics. These are not something your child can control — telling them to stop actually makes tics worse. Tics often come and go in waves and can change over time.
Telling them to stop doesn't help. Understanding why they can't is where healing begins.
School can be tough if classmates notice and comment on tics. Sitting still in class may make tics worse because they're suppressing them. Your child may be exhausted after school from the effort of holding tics in. Social situations can cause anxiety if they're worried about being noticed or teased.
Many people's tics ease with age, but for some they continue into adult life, flaring with stress or tiredness. Understanding colleagues, low-pressure environments, and outlets for the build-up help far more than trying to hold tics in.
Not really — tics are involuntary, and telling someone to stop usually makes them worse. People can sometimes suppress them briefly, but that takes huge effort and the tics tend to burst out later.
Rarely. The swearing tic (coprolalia) is the famous stereotype but affects only a small minority. Most tics are movements or sounds like blinking, throat-clearing, or head jerks.
They come and go in waves and often change over time. Many ease from the late teens into adulthood, though they can flare with stress, excitement, or tiredness.
Yes. While many improve with age, tics can continue into adulthood or reappear under stress. Understanding, low-pressure environments help at any age.
Reducing pressure and stress, not drawing attention to them, and allowing outlets for the build-up. Calm, accepting environments tend to reduce how often tics happen; anxiety tends to increase it.
