Tourette's disorder is a tic disorder usually first diagnosed in childhood or adolescence. The following steps discuss the signs and symptoms of Tourette's disorder. Consult a physician or mental health professional who specializes in childhood disorders for further clarification.
Instructions
1. Look for motor and vocal tics. Both multiple motor and one or more vocal tics must be present, though not necessarily concurrent. A tic is a sudden, rapid, recurrent, nonrhythmic, stereotyped motor movement or vocalization. If this symptom is not present, Tourette's disorder cannot be considered as a diagnosis.
2. Consider the frequency of the tics. The tic must occur many times a day or intermittently throughout a period of more than 1 year, and during this period there cannot have been a tic-free period of more than 3 consecutive months. If this symptom is not present, once again, Tourette's disorder cannot be considered as a diagnosis.
3. Look at the amount of difficulty the disturbance causes in the person's life. The disturbance must cause marked distress or significant impairment in social, occupational or other important areas of functioning.
4. Consider the age of onset. Because this disorder is considered a disorder of childhood and/or adolescence, the onset must occur before age 18. If the symptoms did not become evident before this age, another diagnosis must be considered.
5. Evaluate the possibility of other causes of the symptoms. The disturbance cannot be due to the direct physiological effects of a substance (for example, stimulants) or a general medical condition such as Huntington's disease or postviral encephalitis. It is important for all possible medical conditions to be considered by a physician before a diagnosis of Tourette's disorder is decided upon.
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