The probability of getting Tourette Syndrome is extremely low, so if you or someone you know suffers from the disorder, you can rest assured that this it is quite uncommon. In fact, it is so uncommon that neurologists go through thorough tests before giving a diagnosis because Tourette’s is easily mistaken for many other “tic” disorders and other problems in child development.
The probability of getting Tourette’s is significantly higher in males than females. The probability of holding the gene (which doesn’t necessarily mean you will get the disorder) is around 2% of males and half a percent in females. Mathematically, it has been determined that the probably of holding the TS gene and having the disorder are about a 4/1,000 chance (0.04%) if you are male and you have a 6/10,000 chance (0.006%) if you are female. So, males are about 7-8 times more likely to hold the Tourette’s gene and get diagnosed with the disorder than females are.
Many people grow out of Tourette’s before they become adults. In a recent family study, only 13.6% of sufferers keep Tourette Syndrome for life, 7.8% received a lifetime diagnosis of Chronic Tic Disorder (CTD), and 22.7% received a lifetime diagnosis of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). Another important statistic is that out of a 53 child probands with Tourette’s, 35.3% of families had another family member affected with the disorder and 70.6% of families had another member experience either Chronic Tic Disorder or Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. This is why many doctors will correlate OCD and CTD with their diagnosis of Tourette’s.
Another study that is far more recent is the correlation between Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Tourette’s. The association between the two are pretty controversial and the studies aren’t really conclusive. In another recent study, 54.1% of probands with Tourette’s were also diagnosed with ADHD, 30.6% of probands were diagnosed with a learning disability, and 15.3% of probands shuttered. Whether or not you support this claim, you can’t ignore the evidence in the statistics that ADHD and Tourette’s have something in common.
Tics generally occurs between 6-7 years of age and 75% of patients have tics after the age of 11. The first tics are usually facial and they are soon accompanied by motor and vocal tics (after about 1 year). The majority of patients eventually grow out of Tourette Syndrome, but many don’t.
Although there is no cure for Tourette’s, I have found a great way to relieve the symptoms by controlling stress in my life. I use a great meditation tape that forces my brain to relax and a great method to release feelings that cause my tics to worsen. There is a way to remove Tics from your life!
* Statistics taken out of Chapter 3 of “Neurodevelopmental Disorders: Diagnosis and Treatment” By Randi Jenssen Hagerman.
