The Influence of Music on Tourettes

I have had Tourette’s since the age of 15. Tourette’s syndrome is a neurological disorder characterised by involuntary, repetitive sounds and movements also known as ‘tics’. My mum always suspected I had a ‘tic disorder’ but it didn’t truly present itself until lockdown hit. Even though it was always somewhat underlying, it still came as a shock to my system. I struggled with processing my diagnosis and would often suppress my tics out of embarrassment and shame. Which would lead to severe tic attacks in which I felt out of control. I can only explain the feeling as multiple bugs crawling all over my body, causing an ‘itch’ that I can only scratch with a tic as a reaction.

 My mum being an incredibly active parent felt helpless with the situation and I felt like a prisoner in my own body. There was nothing that could be done to help, as Tourette’s is severely under-researched and the research that is available is incredibly contradictory; resulting in no medical help. A survey completed by Cuenca et al. In 2015 found that 295 parents felt that general health professionals have little knowledge of treatment options for Tourette's sufferers. So, clearly this is a problem. 

Tics traditionally are triggered by factors such as caffeine, stress or tiredness. As a coffee lover, a natural stresshead and someone who studies Musical Theatre for 60+ hours a week, my Tourette’s often makes an appearance!

This led to me having to discover my own ‘coping’ mechanisms to help calm my tics down, especially as it began to affect my day to day life.

The earliest accounts of Tourette’s can be traced all the way back to Ancient Rome. A Greek physician known as Arataeus of Cappadocia provided documented accounts of tic-like symptoms. Examples also appeared throughout the Fifteenth-seventeenth century, such as the first writer of the English Dictionary Samuel Johnson. A case many have debated most recently is the possibility that Mozart had Tourette’s, with letters detailing symptoms many associate with Tourette’s. It wasn’t until Georges Gilles de la Tourette’s official description of the disorder in 1885 that it received its name in honour of Georges.

Tourette’s being so new means there is not currently a cure and no effective medication. Naturally, this is frustrating and I came to the conclusion that I’ll just have to submit to my Tourette’s whenever it makes an appearance. 

However, around 3 years ago during a ‘tic’ attack there was a song that I adored playing in the background. As the song slowly went on my tics diminished until it was just me enjoying a song, without my body uncontrollably flinging itself about. From then on, whenever I proceed to have a tic attack my mum plays songs that she knows will snap me out of it. Personally, they tend to be Musical Theatre but it could be anything from classical to pop. 

The same happens when I’m singing, whenever I start singing whilst ticking it’s as if that part of my brain shuts off and my body can just be. 

Even though there is a lack of research when it comes to Tourette’s there is still some evidence that backs my theory. 

A study was completed in 2016 by William C Brown. The study focused on the effects musical engagement (not listening) has on individuals with Tourette's Disorder. 

The participants (trained musicians) were analysed and had to complete a self reported survey on the influence playing their instrument of choice had on their Tourettes. 

The results showed that out of 183 participants:

-108 claimed a drastic symptom decrease 

-58 slight symptom decrease

-9 no change in symptoms 

-7 slight symptom increase

-1 had a drastic symptom increase 

This suggests that there is a perception of symptom decrease in musicians whilst engaged in musical activity. 

Of all the musical instruments involved within the study (Percussion, Brass, Woodwinds, Voice, Stringed etc.). Voice, Brass and Woodwind showed the biggest symptom decrease.

For Voice, they found that out of 16 singers, 10 had a slight symptom decrease and 6 had a drastic symptom decrease. 

The author theorises that it’s due to the more rigorous physical involvement (Diaphragmatic breathing) and cognitive engagement (Bi-manual movement).

The last question participants were asked was ‘Does musical engagement activity influence the symptoms of Tourettes’. The average response of agreement was 4.45/5.0 indicating yes for a vast majority of the participants. 

Another study (not linked to musical activity) researched the effect of diaphragmatic breathing to aid relaxation in Tourette’s sufferers. Clearly linking the importance of correct breathing with performance as well as it being a positive influence on Tourette’s.

To conclude, musical engagement of sorts does have a positive influence on Tourettes. The one question that is still left to be answered is why? No one is sure why our brain makes our body do weird things for no reason. They are also not sure why music and musical engagement helps our brain stop these odd things from happening. 

As a 20 year old female studying Musical Theatre for a living, I will sadly not be the person to find out why, but I will still use what I know to help myself with my Tourettes. I hope that someone who may also feel stuck in their body can discover that music is such an incredible tool and that they can utilize it in ways they would’ve never imagined. 

To finish, I would like to state that I am no longer embarrassed of my Tourette’s and I accept them as a part of me. I hope that any fellow Tourette’s sufferers can also feel the same with time and support. 

References:

Cuenca, J., Glazebrook, C., Kendall, T., Hedderly, T., Heyman, I., Jackson, G., Murphy, T., Rickards, H., Robertson, M., Stern, J., Trayner, P. and Hollis, C. (2015). Perceptions of treatment for tics among young people with Tourette syndrome and their parents: a mixed methods study. BMC Psychiatry, 15(1). doi:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-015-0430-0.

‌Brown, W. (n.d.). Influence of Musical Engagement on Symptoms of Tourette’s Influence of Musical Engagement on Symptoms of Tourette’s Disorder Disorder. [online] Available at: https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=7383&context=etd [Accessed 4 Apr. 2023].