Hard Tourettes - A Ticcing Timebomb? Quiz / Test | Sci / Tech

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. The majority of people that suffer from Tourette's Syndrome (TS) first present symptoms during a particular phase of their life. At which stage is it, generally, first noticeable?

Answer: Childhood

For the vast majority, Tourette's (TS) starts in childhood, the average age being around 7 or 8 years old. Some grow out of it but for others it is a lifelong condition. Because there is no standard test, though, it could be many years before a diagnosis is made.

2. Tourette's Syndrome (TS) is NOT thought to be an inherited condition?

Answer: False

Research shows that if a parent has Tourette's, there is a 50% chance of passing it on to each child. Even if a child inherits the gene it doesn't mean they will have the disorder. Some research has been done into other factors such as throat infections but results are inconclusive.

3. People with Tourette's Syndrome (TS) often also have other disorders as well. Which of the listed is also closely associated with TS?

Answer: Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

Along with OCD, Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) is also a feature noted in many people with TS. Dystonia is a disorder that, generally, locks a muscle into spasm whereas TS sufferers have tics. Parkinson's and Huntingdon's usually appear in later life.

4. An unfortunate symptom of Tourette's Syndrome (TS) can be the uncontrolled uttering of obscenities. What is the term for this?

Answer: Coprolalia

Copropaxia is making obscene gestures, coprographia is writing obscene words or drawing pictures. Coprophagia is the eating of faeces, something not usually associated with humans. Coprolalia affects only around 1 in 10 of TS sufferers.

5. People that suffer from Tourette's Syndrome (TS) tend to die younger than non-sufferers.

Answer: No

TS does not impair either life expectancy or intelligence. Mozart is thought to have suffered from TS even though the disorder wasn't described until the 19th century.

6. Tourette Syndrome (TS) is associated with a particular area of the brain. Which part of the brain is considered to be primarily affected?

Answer: Basal ganglia

The basal ganglia are a group of structures within the brain responsible for, amongst other things, movement. It is thought that the basal ganglia either 'mis-fire' or the amount of dopamine produced interferes with the functions.

7. Tourette Syndrome (TS) can be split into three broad categories depending on the symptoms exhibited. Which of the options is NOT used?

Answer: Complex Tourettes

Pure Tourettes is the name used when only motor and vocal tics are present. Full blown Tourettes presents additional symptoms such as paliphenomena where the person repeats some of their own words , echophenomena, repeating others' words and Non-Obscene Socially Inappropriate behaviour (NOSI) which is saying things about a person's features for example. Tourettes plus is all of the before mentioned plus things like ADHD, OCD, anxiety and depression to name just a few.

The above is not definitive diagnosis but a general guideline. It is possible to have some symptoms of Tourettes plus without full blown symptoms. All forms of TS though involve both motor and vocal tics.

8. One feature of Tourette Syndrome (TS) that has been noted is that the person affected can sometimes suppress the tic.

Answer: True

Most sufferers learn to suppress their tics in certain circumstances. It is very often however followed by an 'explosion' when they are away from that situation. Even around people they know, TS sufferers will often suppress the tic so as not to be seen to have a problem.

9. Which sex has a much greater chance of exhibiting symptoms of Tourette Syndrome? (Male or Female)

Answer: Male

It is a documented fact that boys are three to four times more likely to show symptoms than girls. Why this is, no-one knows.

10. Tourette Syndrome (TS), along with other neurological disorders cannot be cured. It can, however, be controlled. Which type of therapy is NOT used?

Answer: Surgery

In this case HRT is not hormone replacement therapy, it is habit reversal therapy. It relies on the sufferer recognising a trigger that leads to a tic and changing what they do. Medication is often the most used therapy. A variety of drugs are used to address the levels of dopamine in the brain. Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) has also been used.
Surgery has never been an option.

Source: Author romeomikegolf

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor WesleyCrusher before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

Tourettes - A Ticcing Timebomb? Quiz

Tourette's Syndrome is a neurological disorder that can have serious psychological side effects for the sufferer. This quiz is about promoting understanding of the condition.

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