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In celebrating National Disabilities Awareness Month, let take this time to educate ourselves and spread this knowledge to others. We are better together than apart.

Disability Highlight: Tourette Syndrome

Tourette syndrome is a disorder that involves repetitive movements or unwanted sounds (tics) that can’t be easily controlled. For instance, you might repeatedly blink your eyes, shrug your shoulders or blurt out unusual sounds or offensive words. Tics typically show up between ages 2 and 15, with the average being around 6 years of age. Males are about three to four times more likely than females to develop Tourette syndrome.

Tics are classified as: Simple tics; These sudden, brief and repetitive tics involve a limited number of muscle groups (eye blinking, head jerking, nose twitching, etc.) & Complex tics; These distinct, coordinated patterns of movements involve several muscle groups (touching or smelling patterns, repeating observed movements, obscene gesturing, etc).

Although there’s no cure for Tourette syndrome, treatments are available. Many people with Tourette syndrome don’t need treatment when symptoms aren’t troublesome. Tics often lessen or become controlled after the teen years.

David Beckham, Billie Eilish, Howie Mandel and Steve Wallace deal with Tourettes in their daily lives.