What is the link between Tourette syndrome and autism?IN BRIEF
Autistic people are more likely to also have Tourette Syndrome. What is Tourette Syndrome? It’s when someone has tics involving movements or their voice, and they cannot control them. The person may also often be rigid, meaning they have difficulty with change or changing their mind, they may experience intense outbursts, and their emotions can be more complex to manage. Tourette Syndrome (TS) does not make someone less intelligent. Living with this difference is much easier for individuals who are respected by those around them. For example, if a person is bullied because of their tics or if they are pressured to control them, it can increase their anxiety and challenges, such as their tics.
Definition of Tourette Syndrome?
It is a neurological condition that causes motor tics, which are movements, and verbal tics, which are words or sounds. These movements and sounds are not voluntary. A person cannot decide to stop having Tourette Syndrome. Most of the time, tics occur several times a day, but they tend to worsen when the person is anxious.
Autism and Tourette Syndrome
Autism rarely comes alone. Tourette Syndrome is one of the associated conditions (formerly called associated disorders) of autism, meaning an autistic person is more likely than others to also have Tourette Syndrome. Several traits are shared between the two conditions, such as rigidity, anxiety, and sleep disturbances.
Symptoms of TS (Tourette Syndrome)
The gestures and sounds produced vary from person to person and depend on age, the ability to adjust tics, and the context.
- Head movements
- Lip or nose movements
- Shoulder shrugging
- Eye blinking
- Grunting
- Shouting
- Throat clearing
- Coughing
- Quick glances
- Jumping
- Grimacing
- Self-biting
Several other challenges may arise alongside the syndrome. Like the primary symptoms, these also vary depending on age, self-regulation ability, and context.
- Obsessions
- Compulsions
- Anxiety
- Lack of inhibition
- Rigidity
- Mood swings
- Hyperactivity
- Organizational difficulties
- Learning difficulties
- Adaptation difficulties
- Sensory modulation difficulties
- Opposition
- Provocation
- Explosive episodes
- Impulsivity
- Sleep problems
For more information
References
“Prevalence of autism spectrum disorder in Tourette syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis” par Gucuyener K, et al. dans la revue médicale European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry (2017). This article reviewed several studies on the prevalence of autism among people with Tourette Syndrome and concluded that the prevalence is around 10%.
“Tourette syndrome and autism spectrum disorder: a systematic review” par Smith E, et al. dans la revue médicale Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology (2016). This article examined the links between Tourette Syndrome and autism, concluding that autism prevalence among people with Tourette Syndrome is around 10%.
“Tourette’s syndrome and autism spectrum disorders: comorbidity and clinical implications” par Leckman JF, et al. dans la revue médicale Annals of Neurology (2005). This article explores the links between Tourette Syndrome and autism, suggesting that autism prevalence among people with Tourette Syndrome may exceed 10%.
Scharf, J. M., Miller, L. L., Mathews, C. A., & Ben-Shlomo, Y. (2012). Prevalence of Tourette syndrome and chronic tics in the population-based Avon longitudinal study of parents and children cohort. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 51(2), 192-201.