It’s not a joke. It’s not a punchline. It’s not an excuse. Those are the refrains from four Youth Advocates who live with Tourette Syndrome, a neurobiological disorder characterized by uncontrollable movements or vocalizations known as tics. The disorder is often portrayed in movies or TV as a joke, used by those with a platform as an excuse for misbehavior, or is faked on social media for attention.
Learn more about Tourette Syndrome and how you can support these amazing teens and young adults. www.njcts.org/notapunchline
Dominic's message: [ Ссылка ]
Paige's message: [ Ссылка ]
Mateo's message: [ Ссылка ]
A note on faking tics and the rise of tic-like behaviors on social media:
According to the Tourette Association of America, Functional Neurological Disorder and the tics seen in Tourette Syndrome and other Tic Disorders share many features, including appearance, suggestibility, distractibility, and worsening in times of stress. Echophenomena, the repetition of external movements or sounds, is associated with FND as well as TS and Tic disorders (20).
Functional tic-like behaviors are due to multiple factors and are not produced intentionally. Risk factors for FND include previous life experiences, psychological predisposition, and anatomical makeup (the way your brain is wired). FND is not thought to be purposeful or voluntary. In other words, those with FND are not “faking it.”
The diagnosis of FND may occur by itself or co-occur with neurological conditions such as Tic Disorders. Distinguishing tics seen in Tic Disorders from tic-like behaviors in FND is challenging for the general public and should only be determined by a TS specialist or an FND specialist. The changing nature of Tourette Syndrome presents a challenge to doctors, often requiring particular expertise.
Making the correct diagnosis is vital to find the best treatment for the patient.
