Doctor reveals early signs of Tourette's syndrome to look out for in children
Niamh Shackleton
Featured Image Credit: Getty Stock Image
A doctor has revealed what are that signs that your child might have Tourette's syndrome as the neurological disorder usually starts in childhood.
Tourette's syndrome has been widely discussed of late following John Davidson's tics being aired during coverage of the BAFTAs on February 22.
Davidson has the neurological disorder and the audience were reportedly forewarned about his tics before Sunday night's ceremony, with people being told that they are involuntary.
While people were told about his condition in advance, people were undeniably shocked when a racial slur was used while Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo were on stage.
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BAFTA has since issued an apology to the two actors, while Davidson issued a statement saying that he felt 'deeply mortified if anyone considers my involuntary tics to be intentional or to carry any meaning'.
A lot of people will associate these kind of tics with Tourette's syndrome, something which Dr Suzanne Wylie, GP and medical adviser for IQdoctor, says is one of the biggest misconceptions about the neurological disorder.
She explained to UNILAD: "One of the biggest misconceptions about Tourette’s is that it always involves the dramatic or socially inappropriate behaviours often portrayed in the media; most people with Tourette’s have milder tics and very many never exhibit the more complex vocalisations that people associate with the condition from television or film."
The healthcare expert added: "There is also a misunderstanding that Tourette’s is a psychiatric problem when in reality it is a neurodevelopmental condition, and while it can be associated with co-occurring conditions such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder or obsessive-compulsive behaviours, the tics themselves are not a sign of mental illness."
According to Dr Wylie, Tourette's usually begins in childhood, most commonly around ages five through to seven, and that symptoms are usually 'subtle'.
"Tourette’s syndrome is a neurological condition that many people have heard of but often do not fully understand, and as a GP I would want to start by explaining that it usually begins in childhood," said Dr Wylie.
"Early signs that can be quite subtle such as simple motor tics like eye-blinking, facial grimacing or shoulder shrugging, often followed over time by vocal tics which might start as simple throat-clearing or sniffing."
The pattern of someone's tics can vary, with Dr Wylie noting that stress or excitement can 'make them more noticeable'.
As it stands, it's not totally clear what causes a person to develop Tourette's syndrome.
Dr Wylie explained: "In terms of what causes Tourette’s, the exact mechanisms are not fully understood but it is known to involve differences in the way certain brain circuits regulate movement and behaviour, particularly involving neurotransmitters like dopamine; there is a strong genetic component so it often runs in families, though not everyone who carries the genetic predisposition will develop the condition, and environmental factors may also play a role in how symptoms manifest."