Coprolalia

A Symptom Misunderstanding

One of the most confusing and socially unacceptable symptoms of Tourette Syndrome (TS). TS is an inherited disorder that develops during childhood and affects people of all races and cultures. Symptoms include motor and vocal tics. Motor tics include involuntary gestures of the body. Vocal tics are expressions of noises, words, and sometimes socially unacceptable language.

What is?

Coprolalia is a medical term used to define one of the most confusing and socially stigmatizing symptoms of Tourette Syndrome. It is the involuntary expression of obscene or socially inappropriate words or derogatory comments. Other examples include references to genital areas, stool, and sexual acts. Although coprolalia is the best-known symptom of TS, it occurs in a minority of TS patients. It is most commonly expressed as a word but may involve complex phrases. There is no way to predict who will develop coprolalia. Copropraxia is a related symptom that involves obscene actions.

For years doctors mistakenly believed that a diagnosis of TS could not be confirmed unless coprolalia was present. Until recently, professionals thought that coprolalia was caused by psychological problems, such as extreme frustration, repressed anger, or sexual repression. It is now understood that it is a physical and neurological symptom by nature. Although little research focuses on understanding coprolalia, data shows that one-third of people with TS exhibit this symptom at some time or another in their lives.

However, for those with coprolalia who are trying to deal with daily life — in public places, school, home, or work just going through a day can be unbearably difficult.

How is manifested?

Although obscenities are sometimes commonplace in today’s conversations, coprolalia is different from just using bad words. Usually, these words are not spoken in an emotional or social context and are often said or repeated compulsively and in higher tones or different vocal rhythms than those normally used in conversations. Particularly embarrassing for individuals with coprolalia are involuntary vocalizations in social contexts, such as the dragging of racial or ethnic words in the company of those same people who would be offended by…