The Facts
Tourette's syndrome (TS), named after the French neurologist who first described
it, is an inherited nervous disorder characterized by tics which are brief,
non-rhythmic, stereotyped movements that the sufferer can't control. Depending
on how strictly it's defined, Tourette's syndrome affects between 1 in 3,000
and 1 in 200 people. All ethnic groups are affected, but boys are three times
more likely to be diagnosed with this condition than girls.
Severe cases of TS can cause behavior that many people find bizarre, rude,
or alarming. Many people who have heard of this condition associate it with
loud, uncontrollable swearing. This is one possible symptom of TS, but it's
a fairly rare one. Most people with TS suffer from much less severe tics.