Tourette’s Syndrome

[naomi24]

I watched ‘The Undateables’ on television last night – a programme highlighting the difficulties people with disabilities face in finding partners. One of the people involved suffered from Tourette’s Syndrome, a distressing condition that manifests in a combination of physical and vocal tics. Although I haven’t seen many examples of people with this condition, in every one I have seen the vocal tics result in bad language emanating uncontrollably from the user’s mouth. Does anyone know why that is? Is there a medical or a psychological explanation for it?

[ojread2]

It's neurological, so they said in the programme last night
From watching Luke last night and other programmes on the subject, it seems to me that the person uses language directly tuned to the situation they are in
So, like last night, because Luke was with a girl he called her girl names - not sure if that makes sense but I know what I mean lol

[naomi24]

But I've never seen anyone suffering from this use anything other than bad language during an attack - even when they're alone.

[rowanwitch]

The tic can be anything the urge to do it becomes overwhelming I wonder if the bad language thing is because its the one thing you shouldn't do so is something you'd normally resist

[naomi24]

Don't know Rowan. Odd, isn't it?

[rowanwitch]

Theres a chap I see sometimes who's tic is to turn his head to the side and go b0ll0ck5 sometimes it seemsa in context which is actually worse as I am sure people think he is picking an argument

[naomi24]

It must be so difficult to live with. I imagine a lot of people hear what's coming out of a sufferer's mouth, and make every effort to avoid him!

[Sqad]

No idea....honest.

However, the problem lies in the connections (neurones) between the brain cortex and the thalamus......? dopamine, serotinin abnormalities.

But you ask about the "bad language"...........could it be that the connection between cortex and thalamus is partly responsible for controlling our inhibitions and that interrupting that pathway on an anatomical level or pharmacological level. releases these antisocial inhibitions.

I feel it is this rather than "psychological"

[murraymints]

Sqad...oh...s****....that is what th**** is wrong...if only I could ****understand your *****medic talk.... hee hee

[Sqad]

murray.....f***in 'ell....it's only a bloody guess.

[murraymints]

Sqad..that's ****** well ok then !!! lol

[naomi24]

Crickey! What have I started? Where's that swear filter when you need it?! :o)

[judith-63]

naomi 24 I have read the other comments and am fascinated. I have a Downs Syndrome daughter and she is not inhibited in any way and this can often result in her behaviour being wrong and bad language. Are they right or us for wanting to say things and do not. She has been banned from one hotel.

[Cmitchell]

If you hurt yourself e.g. If you hit your finger with a hammer, the chances are that you will swear. The vocal ticks are just the same as that. If you tried to train yourself not to swear (in the event of instantaneious pain), you probably wouldn't be able to do so. They cannot help themselves from swearing too and neurologically it's the same thing.

Incidentally though not all Tourettes sufferers swear all of the time. Boy on BBC documentary called "Tourettes: I Swear I Can't Help It" said "chicken" regularly. This started when he was about 13 ish. The swearing came a little later.

[naomi24]

Judith, Really? That’s awful! We must at least try to understand – even if we don’t.

[Baldric]

Oh Feck!!!

[Kiki-frog]

At one of the places where my OH works, he frequently sees a man out walking his dog. This chap has Tourette's and his particular tic is to toss his head back and yell '***!' at random moments. For a long time Mr Frog thought that the dog was called ***, and would say, 'Hello, ***,' whenever the dog came up to him. Needless to say he felt a bit of one himself when he realised the truth.

[Kiki-frog]

Oh, bow locks, I forgot about the swear filter thingy. The man's tic was to yell a diminutive of Richard, followed by head. Well, that's that story ruined, isn't it?!

[bravejordy]

Ed! We need a swear jar on here! ;)

[Quizmonster]

Sorry, not an answer to the question, but I thought I'd pass this on. We went to see Billy Connolly a few weeks ago and he told us about a T-shirt his son had sent him from LA. It read,
"We want an end to Tourette's!"
"When do we want it?"
"C***!"

[naomi24]

QM, confirmation, if any were needed, that I don't like Billy Connolly, but thanks for sharing. :o)

Well, thanks for your answers, but it seems 'Nobody Knows' as they say on QI.