Tourette Syndrome

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).

Tourrette's is sometimes mistakenly spelled Turrets Syndrome, or Turretts Syndrome.

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

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