Managing Tourette Syndrome

If you or a family member has Tourette Syndrome (TS), Tourettes Action is here for you. We consult with leading health experts and professionals in the education sector, and draw upon the latest research, to bring you information and resources for managing your TS. Some treatments and therapeutic approaches aren't for everyone, and with each being approximately 50% effective, it's important that every individual makes choices for themselves or their child, based on their personal experience. By presenting a broad range of approaches and treatments to manage TS our goal is to help you find the mix of treatment and approaches that work for you.

Different ways to manage TS

Behavioural therapies provide tools for helping a person learn ways to change certain behaviours. Cognitive therapies can also help a person to change the way they think about tics in addition to taking certain action.

Medication can be used to help reduce the frequency and/or intensity of tics for a period of time.

People in the TS community advocate the use of other approaches to help them manage symptoms, ranging from diet and exercise to complementary therapies.  There is no scientific evidence to date that supports these theories, although researchers are beginning to look at lifestyle choices and the effect they have on a person's tics and general wellbeing. Visit our Research page for futher information.

Neurosurgery - there have been trials in the UK and internationally for treating very sevre TS which has been resistant to all other means of treatment and management, with Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS), a type of neurosurgery. The use of DBS in patients with very severe TS is still in its research stages, and although results have been hopeful, it is still not clear whether this will become an available treatment option.

Please note that you should discuss treatment of TS with your consultant. The material on this website is for guidance only.