Are kids getting Tourette's from TikTok?

A wave of teenagers who developed tics during the pandemic has receded, illustrating the powerful influence of stress on the body and the resilience of adolescents. Aidan, 18, developed involuntary tics after watching videos on TikTok posted by teenagers claiming to have Tourette's syndrome.

Can you get Tourette's from social media?

Some users have acquired unusual or unique tics from watching others with those tics on social media. One study analysed 3,000 TikTok videos using the keywords 'tic', 'Tourette', or 'Tourette's'. It found that the tics displayed by TikTok users were very frequent, and severe.

Why are kids developing tics?

They're thought to be due to changes in the parts of the brain that control movement. They can run in families, and there's likely to be a genetic cause in many cases. They also often happen alongside other conditions, such as: attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

Can screen time cause Tourette's?

Symptoms of tic disorder, caused by several reasons including excessive screen time, can include repeated body tics and the involuntary constriction of the nose. In some cases, children may continuously sigh, mumble, click their tongues, shout, shrug their shoulders, shake their heads, and jerk their jaw muscles.

Are tics developing during the pandemic?

Tics are sudden involuntary movements and sounds which typically occur more commonly in boys, with a peak incidence between age 5 and 7 years. During the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, clinicians have described in numerous case reports a phenomenon of sudden onset tics arising predominantly in teenage girls.

Student With TOURETTE'S Made Fun Of, What Happens Is Shocking | Dhar Mann

Is TikTok causing tics?

The Link Between TikTok And Tics

Teen girls are watching TikTok videos featuring influencers who do have tics. Then, because they're watching these videos so often, their brains start to mimic the tics. “What these teen girls have are called functional tics—it's a functional neurological disorder,” says Dr. Danoun.

Is Tourette's increasing?

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, doctors and patient associations have noticed a surge in tics in people with Tourette Syndrome (TS) and they have also noticed what appears to be a potentially related type of movement disorder among youth that involves tic-like behaviors.

What triggers Tourette's tics?

Common triggers include: Stressful events, such as a family fight or poor performance at school. Boredom, physical illness, or fatigue. Anger or excitement.

Can anything trigger Tourette's?

Your tics may worsen with excitement or anxiety and get better during calm, focused activities. Certain physical experiences can trigger or worsen tics; for example, tight collars may trigger neck tics. Hearing another person sniff or clear the throat may trigger similar sounds.

Can Tourette's go away?

It usually starts during childhood, but the tics and other symptoms usually improve after several years and sometimes go away completely. There's no cure for Tourette's syndrome, but treatment can help manage symptoms.

Who is the girl with Tourette's syndrome on TikTok?

WVU freshman Baylen Dupree was officially diagnosed with Tourette syndrome in 2021. Now she's using TikTok as a way to spread awareness about her condition to over 2.5 million followers.

Can a child stop a tic?

Many tics will eventually go away or improve significantly after a few years. But, if untreated, more severe tics can cause issues such as difficulties at school or social problems.

Will my child's tics go away?

“The vast majority of children eventually outgrow their tics or the tics become less frequent or less severe as the person enters adulthood.”

Can Tourette's tics be stopped?

Although there is no cure for Tourette Syndrome (TS), there are treatments to help manage the tics caused by TS. Many people with TS have tics that do not get in the way of their living their daily life and, therefore, do not need any treatment.

What mimics Tourette's?

Tourette Syndrome (TS) often occurs with other related conditions (also called co-occurring conditions). These conditions can include attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and other behavioral or conduct problems.

Is Tourette's syndrome real or fake?

Tourette syndrome is a condition that affects the brain and nerves, causing people to make repeated movements and sounds, also known as motor and vocal tics, that they cannot control. The symptoms usually begin in childhood, can vary from mild to severe, and change over time.

What age do tics peak?

Tourette Syndrome (TS) is a childhood-onset neuropsychiatric disorder that is characterized by both motor and phonic tics. In TS, tics typically begin at age 5 or 6 years and reach their peak severity between 10 and 12 years of age.

Are you born with Tourette's or does it develop?

Tourette syndrome is a genetic disorder, which means it's the result of a change in genes that's either inherited (passed on from parent to child) or happens during development in the womb.

At what age do tics start?

“Tics typically start to appear around 5 to 10 years of age, and we don't fully understand the cause. However, it's believed that there are neurochemical changes in the neurons that produce dopamine and serotonin, impacting several parts of the brain including the thalamus, cerebral cortex and striatum.”

What does Tourette's look like in a child?

Symptoms of Tourette usually begin between the ages of 5 and 10 with mild, simple tics involving the face, head, or arms. Over time, tics become more frequent and increase in variety, involving more body parts such as the trunk or legs, and often become disruptive to activities of daily living.

Where is Tourette's most common?

Tourette syndrome occurs in 3 out of every 1,000 school-aged children, and is more than twice as common in white kids as in blacks or Hispanics, according to the largest U.S. study to estimate how many have the disorder.

How common is Tourette's?

How common is Tourette syndrome? About one in 100 children have some form of tic disorder. Tourette syndrome is less common. It affects about one out of 160 children.

Do kids outgrow Tourette's?

The tics associated with Tourette syndrome tend to get milder or go away entirely as kids grow into adulthood. Until that happens, though, parents can help their child cope with the condition.

Do most kids outgrow Tourette's?

Children with Tourette's syndrome usually have their worst symptoms between 9 and 13 years of age. Over one half of these children get much better during the teen years and in early adulthood. Less than one half of people who have Tourette's syndrome as children have moderate to severe tics as adults.

How hard is it to live with Tourette's?

Patients living with Tourette syndrome can have difficulty integrating into society and coping with daily activities, as a result of the syndrome. Fortunately, the majority of patients will find that their symptoms subside within approximately ten years.