Tourette’s Syndrome: Symptoms, Impact on Lives of David Beckham and Tim Howard

TOURETTE’S SYNDROME

INTRODUCTION
The Tourette’s Syndrome is a neurological disorder that can be identified on the onset of
childhood, characterized by multiple varieties of ‘tics’. A ‘tic’ is a sudden motor movement that
involves respective muscle groups, including vocalization. These sudden and repetitive
movements lead to behavioral evidences like, blinking of the eye, twitching toes, making strange
vocal noise and many more. The tics are usually preceded by unwanted urge or sensation in the
respective muscles and can be suppressed temporarily (Brander et al.). This study aims to
explore the various symptoms of the Tourette’s Syndrome by focusing on the circumstances of
popular football player David Beckham and Tim Howard, and how it affected their lives and
career.
TOURETTE’S SYNDROME
Though the Tourette ’s syndrome is not a fatal disorder that reduces life expectancy, it is gaining
more importance and relevance due to its increased frequency amongst children and adults. This
disorder usually takes place in the early onset of childhood and is usually caused by genes or
environmental influence. It is a long-term disorder and the diagnosis is based on the history of
symptoms (Cavanna et al.). Usually behavioral therapy is used to treat the disorder that includes
symptoms like eye blinking, throat clearing, coughing, sniffing or other facial movements. There
can be a wide variety of tic disorders and the Tourette’s syndrome is just a part of them. Though
the symptoms are often unnoticed by the observers, it is known to have arisen from genetic
causes or environmental influences. There are no specific lab-tests that can be run for the
diagnosis of this disorder (Dietrich et al.). Since the symptoms are mild at childhood and
decreases gradually with the onset of adulthood, no perfect remedy for this disorder could be
found, other than behavioral therapy.
It is important to identify and recognize the symptoms of the disorder, as they are often coupled
with other disorders like ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder), OCD (Obsessive
Compulsive Disorder and other specialty disorders (Robe et al.). When coupled with other
disorders, the Tourette’s syndrome causes more impairment to the affected individual. If not
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controlled at an early age, this syndrome can be a host to multiple other disorders for the entire
life.
This paper would explore the scenarios of David Beckham and Tim Howard, in order to
thoroughly understand how Tourette’s affect individual lives and how to overcome the
difficulties.
DAVID BECKHAM
David Beckham suffers from acute OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) as well as Tourette’s
syndrome. OCD is a condition where the patient is continuously trying to match everything and
see to it that everything is properly arranged, for example, things kept in alphabetical orders or
arranging things according to their color, size and number. David Beckham also suffers from a
wide range of Tourette tics (Misirlisoy et al.). From rearranging hotel rooms to lining up cans in
order is something that comes very naturally to Beckham. David Beckham has repeatedly
acknowledged how he is often triggered by these simple issues of having everything in order. He
has admitted his condition and has also stated that he would like to stop this behavior, but he
can’t. When playing for Manchester United, his team-mates would leave things here and there to
infuriate him. This condition is also reflected in his playing styles, as he is extremely cautious
about his movements and is a perfectionist and world famous in aiming targets with his football
(Tsetsos et al.). Even after playing when the team would return to their hotel rooms to take rest,
Beckham would first put all the sheets and leaflets away. He will keep everything that belongs to
its particular place. Only after re-arranging his room, he would finally have the peace of mind to
take some rest. The captain of the England football team is often called as a ‘weirdo’ by his wife,
Victoria for his condition. All these symptoms contribute to his tourette syndrome and will be
passed down to the next generations as this a genetic disorder.
TIM HOWARD
Tim Howard is an exceptional goal-keeper, currently playing for the team Colorado Rapids
under the United States of America. Howard suffered from anxiety issues in his childhood and
also showed some signs of hyper-activity. He stated that he was ten years old, when he first
showed the symptoms. It first started through tapping several objects in a particular manner,
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