The athlete Tim Howard, described by the Chicago Tribune as the "rarest of creatures—an American soccer hero", and by the Tourette Syndrome Association as the "most notable individual with Tourette Syndrome around the world", says that his neurological makeup gave him an enhanced perception and an acute focus that contributed to his success on the field.Samuel Johnson is a historical figure who likely had Tourette syndrome, as evidenced by the writings of his friend James Boswell. Johnson wrote A Dictionary of the English Language in 1747, and was a prolific writer, poet, and critic. There is little support for speculation that Mozart had Tourettes: the potentially coprolalic aspect of vocal tics is not transferred to writing, so Mozarts scatological writings are not relevant; the composers available medical history is not thorough; the side effects of other conditions may be misinterpreted; and "the evidence of motor tics in Mozarts life is doubtful".Likely portrayals of TS or tic disorders in fiction predating Gilles de la Tourettes work are "Mr. Pancks" in Charles Dickenss Little Dorrit and "Nikolai Levin" in Leo Tolstoys Anna Karenina. The entertainment industry has been criticized for depicting those with Tourette syndrome as social misfits whose only tic is coprolalia, which has furthered the publics misunderstanding and stigmatization of those with Tourettes. The coprolalic symptoms of Tourettes are also fodder for radio and television talk shows in the US and for the British media.
Outcomes in adulthood are associated more with the perceived significance of having tics as a child than with the actual severity of the tics. A person who was misunderstood, punished or teased at home or at school is likely to fare worse than a child who enjoyed an understanding environment. The long-lasting effects of bullying and teasing can influence self-esteem, self-confidence, and even employment choices and opportunities. Comorbid ADHD can severely affect the childs well-being in all realms, and extend into adulthood.Factors impacting quality of life change over time, given the natural fluctuating course of tic disorders, the development of coping strategies, and a persons age. As ADHD symptoms improve with maturity, adults report less negative impact in their occupational lives than do children in their educational lives. Tics have a greater impact on adults psychosocial function, including financial burdens, than they do on children. Adults are more likely to report a reduced quality of life due to depression or anxiety; depression contributes a greater burden than tics to adults quality of life compared to children. As coping strategies become more effective with age, the impact of OCD symptoms seems to diminish. Epidemiology
Tourette syndrome is a common but underdiagnosed condition that reaches across all social, racial and ethnic groups. It is three to four times more frequent in males than in females. Observed prevalence rates are higher among children than adults because tics tend to remit or subside with maturity and a diagnosis may no longer be warranted for many adults.