Tourette's Awareness Month: May 15 – June 15

Tourette’s Awareness Month is an international celebration that takes place each year from May 15 – June 15. This month of awareness was initiated by various Tourette’s awareness and advocacy organizations. The common goal of this month is to raise awareness for Tourette’s syndrome through education, advocacy, and community building.  

Tourette’s syndrome is named after Gilles de la Tourette, a French neurologist. In 1884, Gilles de la Tourette began training at the Salpêtrière hospital under his mentor Jean-Martin Charcot. In 1885, Gilles went on to publish an article in the Archives de Neurologie describing a condition he called “maladie des tics.” Gilles observed that people with this condition experienced an onset in childhood (with the possibility of its being hereditary), symptoms that wax and wane in their frequency, involuntary movements, an uncomfortable sensation that builds and precedes involuntary movements or sounds, as well as echolalia (automatic repetition of words or sounds) and coprolalia (the involuntary utterance of inappropriate words or phrases).  

Today, Tourette's Syndrome—also referred to as Tourette Syndrome or Tourette’s Disorder—is understood to be a neurodevelopmental disorder, affecting children, adolescents, and adults. Researchers and the community have embraced the word “tics” to describe the involuntary movements and sounds that come with Tourette’s syndrome. It is difficult to accurately state how prevalent Tourette’s Syndrome is, as tics can often go unrecognized, so the condition may not be diagnosed. Additionally, access to Tourette’s resources and a diagnosis can vary based on an individual's condition, such as how close they are to a specialist, the amount of insurance coverage they have, and how knowledgeable their health care practitioner is regarding Tourette’s and its different presentations.  

The Live Work Well Research Centre is committed to expanding disability justice and inclusion. This month, show your support for Tourette’s Awareness Month by wearing teal on Tuesdays!