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Tourettes: it is not what you think

Document Cited in Related
Vincent
Published date15 June 2022
Publication titleHuddersfield Daily Examiner
Emma McNally, CEO of Tourettes Action (tourettes-action.org.uk) says: "Tourettes is still a very misunderstood condition. It's one of the least known neuro conditions, with many people thinking it's rare, and that swearing is a criteria for diagnosis - both of which are untrue. This misunderstanding often brings a stigma and makes people with the condition feel isolated

"At Tourettes Action, we believe that, with awareness, we will bring acceptance and ultimately stop the stigma associated with the condition." Here are seven things you may not know about Tourettes... It's rare to swear Contrary to popular belief, a massive 90% of people with Tourettes don't have coprolalia - the clinical term for involuntary swearing.

Emma says: "We're hoping our awareness campaign #ThisIs- Tourettes #ItsNotWhatYouThink will help dispel lots of the myths surrounding Tourettes, and enable people to have social acceptance and live their lives to the full."

Tics are the main problem The main feature of Tourettes is tics, which are involuntary sounds and movements, such as blinking, shrugging, whistling, limb and head jerking, or repeating a sound, word or phrase.

These usually start at around the age of six or seven, and Tourettes Action says they can occur in any part of the Emma body and can even be internal. Tics usually come and go, and can be influenced by things like stress, excitement and relaxation.

They must be experienced for at least a year to be diagnosed as Tourettes.

Co-occurring conditions are very common Up to 85% of people with Tourettes will also have McNally conditions, including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder...

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