Tourette syndrome (also called Tourette's syndrome, Tourette's disorder, Gilles de la Tourette syndrome, GTS or the more common Tourette's or TS) is an inherited neurological disorder with onset in childhood, characterized by the presence of multiple motor tics and at least one phonic tic, which characteristically wax and wane. Tourette syndrome is defined along a spectrum of tic disorders, which includes transient tics and chronic tics.
Tourette syndrome was once considered a rare and bizarre syndrome, most often associated with coprolalia, which is present in fewer than 15% of persons with Tourette's. It is no longer considered a rare condition, but the condition may not be identified because of the wide range of severity, with most cases classified as mild. The precise cause of Tourette syndrome is not known and the genes have not been identified, but genetic and environmental factors each play a role.
People with Tourette's have normal life expectancy and intelligence. Notable individuals with Tourette syndrome are found across many professions and in all walks of life. The severity of the tics decreases for most children as they pass through adolescence, and extreme Tourette's in adulthood is a rarity. Medication is not needed for most cases. Although no medication is effective for all persons with tics, there are medications and therapies that can help when their use is warranted. Understanding, knowledge about the condition, and a supportive family and community are the best treatments.
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