Challenging stereotypes about Tourette syndrome | Chris Elliott: Open door

Only 10% of those with the disorder have coprolalia – so why the common misconception that everyone with Tourette’s swears?A group of people seeking to change the way their disability is viewed and reported is those who have Tourette syndrome. An aspect of the coverage of what is an inherited neurological disorder is the association of the condition with swearing.An online review, published last December, of a comedy show by the duo Cassetteboy described their mashup of The Apprentice as showing Alan Sugar “barking ‘bloody!’ like a Tourette’s sufferer”. Matthew Pountney, co-founder of the website Touretteshero, which aims to celebrate and share the creativity and humour of the disorder in an accessible way, complained in an email that the line “like a Tourette’s sufferer” should have no place in the Guardian. Continue reading...
Source: Guardian Unlimited Science - Category: Science Authors: Tags: The Guardian National newspapers & magazines Media Disability Society Language Science Source Type: news