There are still many myths about Tourette syndrome out there, despite it being quite common.
Tourette syndrome is typically diagnosed between the ages of 2 and 21 and is characterised by repetitive and involuntary muscle movements or vocalisations called tics.
It's important to know that these tics are neurological which means a person with Tourette syndrome cannot control them.
Some people may only experience very mild tics, whilst others may have more severe.
Although Tourette syndrome is not often talked about, it is relatively common, affecting 1% of children.
Myth 1. Everyone with Tourette syndrome shouts rude words!
A very common misconception is that people with Tourette syndrome are prone to loud bursts of uncontrollable swearing and obscene gestures.
And this makes sense since popular culture has picked up on a stigmatised view of the disorder shown in movies and TV.
However, that a mere 10-15% of people with the disorder experience this type of Tourette syndrome, called coprolalia.
Vocal tics are much more likely to be noises such as sniffing, throat clearing, tongue clicking, and grunting.
If someone does have coprolalia, they may repeat one socially unacceptable word or phrase, however for others it can be triggered by something in their environment.
This environmental trigger can make things quite difficult for a person, such as if they were to use a racist or sexist term when meeting someone for the first time.
Myth 2. Tourette syndrome is caused by bad parenting or trauma!
It is not known exactly what causes Tourette syndrome, but it is likely a combination of genetic, environmental, and neurochemical chemicals of the brain factors.
Tourette syndrome, however, is not in any way the result of bad parenting or a traumatic history as was historically suggested.
This myth may have been a result of the fact that tics can occur more frequently if a person is anxious or stressed.
There is strong evidence to suggest that the condition stems from dysfunction in the part of the brain that is responsible for motor control.
There is also strong evidence of a genetic link a child of a person who has Tourette syndrome has a 50% chance of developing the condition themselves.
Boys are also three times more likely to inherit the condition than girls.
