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Uncovering the Truth about Tourette Syndrome

Facial tics, sudden jerks of the head, blinking, yelping, and clearing of the throat. These are all symptoms of Tourette Syndrome (TS), a neurological disorder characterized by involuntary physical and vocal tics.

The exact caused of TS is not known. According to the Tourette Syndrome Association (TSA), there is evidence that it stems from the abnormal metabolism of the neurotransmitter, dopamine. Other neurotransmitters, such as serotonin, are thought to be involved as well. Another, more familiar neurological disease, Parkinson's, is also thought to be caused by the amounts of dopamine in the brain.

There are many misconceptions about Tourette Syndrome, the most common being that people with TS yell out obscenities uncontrollably. In reality, only 15% of those with TS have this symptom of uncontrollable shouting of curses and racial slurs, known as coprolalia. Symptoms actually fall along a spectrum of very mild to quite severe. Many cases are so minor they go undiagnosed for years. It is difficult to get to the "truth" of TS, as the symptoms tend to vary a lot from person to person. For instance, although the tics and twitches of Tourette Syndrome are classified as "involuntary," that term can be confusing, as some people with TS can control the symptoms for a time (although they often have to seek a time and a place to "release" them later).

The media has been known to sensationalize the less common symptoms of TS, such as uncontrollable cursing, making it even harder for people to truly understand the disorder and those who have it. Unlike Parkinson's disease, TS doesn't have high-profile advocates like Michael J. Fox or Muhammed Ali working to publicize it and raise money to seek a cure. For many with TS, these inaccurate representations in the media do not reflect the reality of living with the disorder.

Yet there is disagreement, even among experts, over the portrayals of TS in the media. For instance, the Tourette Syndrome Association applauded the depiction of a woman with TS played by Anne Heche in the FOX series Ally McBeal. TSA even honored the show's producer, David E. Kelley at their annual Hollywood gala. Kelley had worked TS storylines into his other two shows, Chicago Hope and The Practice, as well. Cox News Service quoted the director of medical and scientific programs at TSA as saying the portrayal was "fair, accurate, and sympathetic." Others did not agree. One mother who has children with TS and has set up an informative Web site about the disorder has criticized Ally McBeal and TSA for associating the tics of TS with manslaughter. On the show in question, the character with Tourette Syndrome accidentally runs over her boyfriend when she gets an uncontrollable leg tic while driving. This scenario, she says, is impossible and does a disservice to people with TS.

The movie The Tic Code also tells the story of a person with TS and has been almost universally hailed as a sympathetic and accurate representation of the disorder. The film was inspired by the life of Michael Wolff. Wolff, formerly musical director for the Arsenio Hall Show, is a jazz pianist with a touring and recording career. He also has Tourette Syndrome. The semiautobiographical screenplay was written by the actress Polly Draper (Wolff's wife in real life) and focuses on a twelve-year old child―a gifted jazz pianist with TS. The film has been applauded by those closest to the disorder, including people with TS and their family members.

So maybe there are some Michael J. Foxes in the world of Tourette Syndrome after all.

Recalling Information

Choose True of False for each statement, based on what you have just read.


1	About 50% of people with Tourette Syndrome exhibit coprolalia.
		A)	TRUE
		B)	FALSE


2	Coprolalia is the uncontrollable yelling of obscenities.
		A)	TRUE
		B)	FALSE


3	The cause of TS could be related to other neurological diseases, such as Parkinson's.
		A)	TRUE
		B)	FALSE


4	Most people with TS suffer from severe symptoms.
		A)	TRUE
		B)	FALSE


5	Michael J. Fox is a high-profile advocate for TS.
		A)	TRUE
		B)	FALSE


6	The Tourette Syndrome Association approved of the portrayal of a character with TS in the television series Ally McBeal.
		A)	TRUE
		B)	FALSE


7	The Tic Code is a movie about a man with TS who is a touring jazz pianist.
		A)	TRUE
		B)	FALSE


8	Critics generally agree that the portrayal of TS in The Tic Code is fair and sympathetic.
		A)	TRUE
		B)	FALSE

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