Conditions & Diseases: Other

Tourette Syndrome

See Also:
Tourette Syndrome: General Description
Tourette Syndrome: Signs & Symptoms
Tourette Syndrome: Diagnosis
Tourette Syndrome: Treatment Options

Diagnosis

A Tourette Syndrome diagnosis is established by a neurologist, a doctor that specializes in problems with the body's nervous system. There are two main conditions that need to be fulfilled for a neurologist to make his diagnosis:

• Tics, both motor and vocal lasting at least one year.
• Symptoms that cannot be explained by other medical conditions.
• Tic-free periods are less than 3 months.
• Tics can be directly observed.
• Changes in the type, complexity, frequency, and anatomical location of tics during the course of the disorder.
• Symptoms onset before age 18.

The diagnosis involves the following steps:

• A complex and detailed patient personal medical history and family history.
• A physical examination, clinical evaluation, observation and assessment of the characteristic symptoms.
• Imaging tests which could include: magnetic resonance imaging test (MRI), computerized tomography scan (CT), or electroencephalograms (EEG)
• Blood tests ( used to exclude other medical conditions that can be confused with TS)
• Self-survey (when the patient is asked to keep track of the frequency, intensity, and kinds of tics is he having).

See Also:
Tourette Syndrome: General Description
Tourette Syndrome: Signs & Symptoms
Tourette Syndrome: Diagnosis
Tourette Syndrome: Treatment Options

Article by Alina Morrow, MA
Medical Writer,
OmniMedicalSearch.com