Driving with Tourettes

Today is day 6 of Tourette Syndrome Awareness Month.  Since the weekend was incredibly busy for me, I figured I'd stick with a smaller post for today.  I was thinking about a question that someone recently asked me, and I thought I'd answer her question here in case anyone else has asked that same question.  "Can someone with Tourette Syndrome drive?"

In most cases, the answer to that question is yes.  Tourette Syndrome in itself is not a cause for someone being unable to drive.  There really isn't much reason as to why someone with TS couldn't drive, unless there are other medical issues that are co-existing along with the TS, or unless the tics make it too hard to concentrate on the road or drive safely.  In fact, I've talked to several people that have said the concentration it takes to drive is a good distraction from the tics, giving the ticcer a break from their usual tics.  One person I talked to said that they wouldn't tic while driving, but would have to release their tics (in this person's case, severe head shaking) at every red light and stop sign.  As soon as he was able to drive again, the tics would be controlled until the next chance to stop.

Not only can people with Tourette Syndrome drive a car, but they can also race a car.  I've mentioned before about the racing record that was accomplished by Trey Shannon for TS Awareness.  I may also have mentioned that NASCAR drivers Kenny Wallace and Steve Wallace both have Tourette Syndrome.  They offer hope to ticcers like Monster Man who have dreams of one day racing a car themselves.

Celebrities with Tourette Syndrome

The question came up on the National Tourette Syndrome Association Facebook page yesterday as to what all celebrities have been diagnosed with TS. While the answers given didn't include all of them, it was quite interesting to find out who does have TS, who did have TS, and who is speculated to have TS.

One that immediately stuck out to me is NASCAR driver Steve Wallace. Son of driver Rusty Wallace, Steve is one of the younger drivers in NASCAR at this time. I've read somewhere that his uncle, NASCAR driver Kenny Wallace, has also stated that he was diagnosed. This is of particular interest to me, as well as to Monster Man, since Monster Man has (as I've mentioned in a previous post) talked a lot about driving for NASCAR someday. I would love for him to be able to meet these two drivers and to find out that it is still possible to make his dream come true!

Soccer players David Beckham and Tim Howard, x-treme motocross racer Jeremy "Twitch" Stenberg, minor league baseball players Jim Eisenreich and Mike Johnston, and retired pro golfer Calvin Peete are amongst the list of pro-athletes that been diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome.

There are also many comedians, musicians, and actors that make up the list of celebrities with TS. We were only a little surprised to see that Dan Aykroyd and Howie Mandel were both on the list. Robin Williams is speculated to have TS, though some say that his is a 'self-imposed' kind of Tourette Syndrome. There is also so research that suggests that Mozart might have had Tourette Syndrome, as well.

When you see the list of celebrities that have faced TS head on, overcoming the daily challenges to do what they love best, it gives a better idea of just how possible it is to reach your dreams even when faced with Tourette Syndrome.