What is Tourette Syndrome? Easy read

1. Easy Read PowerPoint (outline with slides)

Here’s a simple structure with clear headings, short text, and visuals/symbols suggestions you can add when making slides in PowerPoint:

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Slide 1 – Title

Tourette Syndrome (TS)
(Picture idea: Brain symbol / friendly character with thought bubble)

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Slide 2 – 

• A brain condition.

• People have movements or sounds they cannot stop.

• These are called tics.
  (Symbol: person moving, sound bubble)

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Slide 3 – What are Tics?

• Motor tics = body moves (blinking, shrugging, head jerks).

• Vocal tics = sounds (grunting, throat clearing, words).
  (Symbol: eye blink, speech bubble)

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Slide 4 – Who gets Tourette’s?

• Starts in childhood (before age 18).

• Lasts more than a year.
  (Symbol: child icon, calendar)

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Slide 5 – Diagnosis

Doctors check:

• At least 2 motor tics.

• At least 1 vocal tic.

• Tics for more than 1 year.
  (Symbol: checklist)

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Slide 6 – Causes

• Genes (runs in families).

• Sometimes linked to birth, injury, or infections.
  (Symbol: family tree, baby icon)

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Slide 7 – Other Conditions

Many people also have:

• ADHD

• Anxiety

• OCD
  (Symbols: ADHD brain, worried face, repeating circle arrows)

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Slide 8 – Treatment

• Therapy: helps with tics.

• Medicine: can make tics easier.

• Support: family, teachers, doctors.
  (Symbol: doctor, pill, group of people)

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Slide 9 – Important to Know

• Tics often get better as you grow older.

• Stress can make tics worse.
  (Symbol: smiley face growing up, stressed face)

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Slide 10 – You Are Not Alone

• With help, people with Tourette’s can do well in school, work, and life.
  (Symbol: friends holding hands, graduation cap)

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2. Study Sheet (Q&A style)

Tourette Syndrome (TS) Study Sheet

Q: What is TS?
A: A brain condition where people have tics (movements or sounds they cannot control).

Q: What are the two types of tics?

• Motor tics – body moves (e.g., blinking, shrugging, head jerks).

• Vocal tics – sounds (e.g., throat clearing, grunting, repeating words).

Q: When does TS usually begin?
A: In childhood, before age 18, and lasts more than 1 year.

Q: What must doctors see for a TS diagnosis?

• At least 2 motor tics.

• At least 1 vocal tic.

• Tics lasting more than 1 year.

• Tics not caused by another condition or substance.

Q: What causes TS?
A: Mostly genetics, but pregnancy factors, birth problems, injury, or infections may also play a role.

Q: What other conditions often happen with TS?
A: ADHD, OCD, and Anxiety.

Q: How can TS be treated?

• Therapy (like Exposure and Response Prevention).

• Medication (to reduce severe tics).

• Support (from family, teachers, doctors).

Q: Do tics last forever?
A: No. Tics often get better in late adolescence. Stress and anxiety can make them worse.