Tourette Syndrome
Diagnosing Tourette's syndrome
Source: NHS
In this topic (7)
The first stage in diagnosing Tourettes syndrome is to rule out other possible causes of your childs symptoms.
Other possible causes include:
- Indoor allergy if they're sniffing and coughing
- vision problems if they're blinking more than usual
It's also necessary to rule out other conditions that can cause tic-like behaviours, such as:
- autistic spectrum disorder a developmental disorder which causes problems with social interaction, learning and behaviour, and may cause mannerisms or stereotypies (repetitive movements) that can be mistaken for tics
- dystonia a condition that causes involuntary muscle spasms
To help rule out these conditions, your child may be referred to a number of experts, such as:
- a neurologist a doctor who specialises in treating conditions affecting the brain and nervous system
- a psychiatrist a doctor who specialises in treating mental health conditions
- an educational or clinical psychologist healthcare professionals who work with children who have learning, developmental or behavioural difficulties
Brain-imaging scans, such as computerised tomography (CT) scan and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan, can also be used to check for any brain or nervous system abnormalities suggesting a neurological cause for your childs symptoms, other than Tourettes syndrome. However, most children with tics or Tourettes syndrome don't require a brain scan.
Confirming the diagnosis
There's currently no single test for Tourettes syndrome. A diagnosis can only be made by assessing your childs symptoms to see whether they follow the pattern usually associated with the syndrome.
A confident diagnosis of Tourettes syndrome can usually be made if your child:
- has symptoms that are not being caused by other medical conditions or any medication they are taking
- started having tics before 18 years of age
- has had several physical tics and at least one vocal tic
- has tics that occur many times during the day, virtually every day
- has been having tics for at least a year
Tourettes Action
If your child is diagnosed with Tourettes syndrome, you may want to find out as much as you can about it, including available treatments and support.
A good place to start is Tourettes Action , a UK charity for people with the syndrome.
Articles for Tourette Syndrome
"The urge to perform the tic is overwhelming"
Joanna was diagnosed with Tourette's syndrome in her 30s, and has had tics all her life. She describes what effects different medications had on her.
Causes of Tourette's syndrome
The cause of Tourettes syndrome is unknown. However, it is thought to be linked to problems with an area of the brain known as the basal ganglia.
Diagnosing Tourette's syndrome
In diagnosing Tourettes syndrome, the first stage is to rule out other possible causes of your childs symptoms.
Introduction
Tourette's syndrome is a neurological condition, characterised by a combination of involuntary noises and movements called tics.
Problems associated with Tourette's syndrome
Tourette's syndrome is often associated with psychological and behavioural problems, as well as learning difficulties.
Symptoms of Tourette's syndrome
If your child has tics, it does not necessarily mean that they have Tourettes syndrome.
Treating Tourette's syndrome
Behavioural therapy and medication are the main treatments for Tourette's syndrome. Rarely, in severe cases, surgery or deep brain stimulation may be used.
