Often misrepresented and misunderstood, Tourette syndrome is more than a condition that causes random swearing, as usually depicted in the media. A neurological condition, Tourette syndrome affects an estimated 1 in every 360 children… and those are the diagnosed cases. The Centers for Disease Control estimates that nearly half of children with Tourette’s are undiagnosed. For adults, living with Tourette’s can be incredibly challenging. However, today, more than ever, there are many avenues for living with Tourette’s syndrome, and more people are coming forward to share their stories.
Symptoms of Tourette Syndrome
The hallmarks of Tourette syndrome are known as tics. Ranging from mild to severe, tics are categorized as motor and vocal. Common motor tics include blinking, facial grimacing, jaw movements, head, and arm jerking, and shoulder shrugging. Sometimes, these motor tics are combined. Common vocal tics include sniffing, throat clearing, grunting, and shouting, while more complicated ones may consist of confusing words or phrases or the more commonly portrayed swearing and profanity. While the exact cause of Tourette’s is unknown, doctors and researchers believe that it is likely a combination of genetic and environmental factors. It is also thought that chemicals in the brain that transmit nerve impulses also may play a role.
Living with Tourette’s
All-American soccer player and United States national team goalie Tim Howard has been living with Tourette syndrome and OCD since childhood. His book, The Keeper, published in 2014, brings his career and life with Tourette syndrome to light while sharing his story to help kids and adults understand this complicated condition. Today, after nearly every game, Howard meets with a child with Tourette and their family. He is an active participant in the Child Mind Institute’s #MyYoungerSelf campaign. He is an inspiration to the many children, families, and fans who struggle with neurological and mental health disorders.
Coping with Tourette Syndrome
There is hope for Tourette sufferers. New studies show promise for treatment through noninvasive and drug-free treatments, including Chiropractic Neurology. In one study published by the Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health, research shows that as the brain develops, it relies on normal structural movement and joint movement and that complex communication and pathways in the brain are tied to spinal biomechanics and their neurological pathways.
Neurological disorders may be related to how the body communicates with the brain and the spine. Chiropractic Neurologists are experts in the brain-nervous system connection and how to harness its healing power.
If you or a loved one living with Tourette’s syndrome and would like to know if Chiropractic Neurology can help, don’t hesitate to get in touch with the team at the Georgia Chiropractic Neurology Center for more information. To learn more about Tim Howard and watch his video on life with Tourette Syndrome, click here. For more information about Tourette syndrome and resources that can help sufferers lead a happy and productive life, visit the Tourette Association of America’s website.