Deep Brain Stimulation Surgery for Tourette's Syndrome

Tourette's Syndrome is a problem that usually begins to show when the patient is very young. The symptoms start out slight, in fact, so slight that it is often misdiagnosed as ADD. It isn't until the child grows and begins to show stronger signs of Tourette's such as tics and blurting out words. It is something that the patient cannot control but it can cause a great deal of problems throughout the Tourette's patient's life. There may be new hope for the Tourette's patient.

Deep Brain Stimulation is already being used on several patients who suffer from Parkinson's Disease with great success. The two conditions have a lot in common with each other. Both diseases attack the neurological functions of the brain. Parkinson's and Tourette's patients might benefit from the same type of treatment.

Deep brain stimulation is a surgical treatment where they place electrodes into the affected area of the brain. For Parkinson's disease patients, it has proven to greatly reduce the jerky movements that usually accompany the disease. For Tourette's patients, it could mean that the patient wouldn't have so many tics and/or outbursts that the patient has. That means that the patient will have a better quality of life overall because they will be able to make it through the day without any of the problems related to Tourette's.

DBS (deep brain stimulation) for Tourette's could be the answer for those who exhibit strong signs of Tourette's to the point of affecting everyday life. It is deemed a safe procedure but it should be noted that there are treatments that can help those who have only mild symptoms. The effects of Tourette's can lessen as a person grows older and most often do. Using DBS should be reserved for people who continue to worsen as they age.

It should be noted that people with Tourette's have the opportunity to control the symptoms of the syndrome through several means. There are support groups as well that can help you learn to cope with the condition in every day life. Do a lot of research before you make any decisions about the treatment that you would like to further explore with your doctor. The best information can be gained from listening to other Tourette's patients can help a great deal. Consider all the options you have. Any surgery has risks and DBS is not different. There are risks involved and the surgery is still in clinical trials. Long term affects aren't really known at this point. Tourette's can be controlled even though there is no "cure for it.