Tourette Syndrome

June is a month that has a lot to do with men. Father’s Day falls on Sunday, June 17 of this year. Men’s Health Month is also spotlighted throughout the month of June. You can read more about it here. It focuses primarily on awareness of preventable health problems and encourages early detection and treatment among men and boys. Early treatment for disease and injury and seeking regular medical advice is promoted for men during this time.

Did you know that Tourette syndrome is four times more likely to occur in boys than in girls? It is typically noticed around the ages of 7 to 10. It is believed that Tourette syndrome is passed down through families, even though the gene has not yet been discovered.

The most common symptom of Tourette syndrome is tics. Tics are involuntary sudden, short and intermittent movements or sounds. These tics can be related to movement (motor tics) or sounds (vocal tics).

Common Motor Tics

• Eye Blinking
• Head Jerking
• Mouth Movements
• Nose Twitching
• Hopping
• Eye Shifting
• Obscene gesturing
• Twisting or Bending

Common Vocal Tics

• Repeating
• Grunting
• Coughing
• Throat Clearing
• Barking
• Saying swear words or other types of vulgar words

Tics vary greatly from person to person. Normal variations include frequency, type and severity. They may increase in intensity if you’re experiencing sleepiness, anxiousness, stress, joy or sickness.

The Time To See A Doctor

The time to see a doctor if you notice signs of tics in your child is now. Tics do not always indicate that you have Tourette’s, however it is important to rule out other serious health problems related to tics.

Contact New York Facial Paralysis today.