Hi there,

I was wondering if what I've been experiencing could be adult onset tourettes, or if maybe it is something else? I know from my research that tourettes seems to typically begin during childhood, and I'm really not sure how rare adult onset tourettes is. I'm a 23 year old female, and have been experiencing complex vocal tics since around age 22, so for basically the past year. I also suffer from bipolar disorder, OCD, and anxiety disorder (whee! ). The tics are very transient, I don't have them all the time. They're at their worst when I am having a manic episode, or if I am very stressed or sleepy. It's always the same though.... I always know beforehand what I am about to say (it's always random sentences... they make sense, but have absolutely nothing to do with the topic at hand) and warn whoever I am with at the time, or whoever I am on the phone with (I guess I'm very social because I'm typically not alone) that "I'm about to say something really stupid and random, please just ignore it!" and then the sentence will just spill out of my mouth. They're never relevant... for example if I'm discussing let's say.... what to eat for dinner with my fiance, I might blurt out "My brother said Tuesday would work just fine!" in the middle of our conversation about food. Needless to say the other person gets one very confused look on their face. -->

So what do you guys think? Sorry for the length, I didn't mean to ramble.
Thanks for helping!

MK

Hello MK, Tourette Syndrome can be diagnosed at any age, but the requirements in the DSM4 handbook are that the ticks themselves start in adolescence (before you are 18). Also, to be Tourette Syndrome one suffers from at least 1 motor and at least 1 vocal tic. Have you been experiencing motor (movement) tics or on the vocal one?

It sounds to me like you have a coprolalia related disorder. Coprolalia is when you involuntarily swear or say taboo things. It is what most people believe Tourette Syndrome is even though only like 20% of people with TS suffer from coprolalia. Since your example exclamation was just a normal sentence it sounds like it is a very similar type of disorder but as far as I know coprolalia is strictly swear words or taboo sentences.

Those of us with Tourette Syndrome do make noises or say things involuntarily and so we can empathize with how this is affecting your life and how hard it is.

As always, you should definitely ask a doctor for the best advice, diagnosis, and treatment.