A spokeswoman for Tourette Syndrome International, a non-profit organization that educates the public about the disorder and raises funds for research, said at a press conference today that despite PR efforts, TS is $#%&ing misunderstood.
"This is a neurological disorder that causes facial and sometimes vocal tics, typically in younger people," Darlene Armbrister, vice president of marketing for TSI said. "This is not just about kids going about, shouting $#%& or @*^% at inappropriate moments."
Armbrister said that, in fact, these types of symptoms are present in only a small percentage of Tourette Syndrome sufferers. In general those with TS tend to exhibit eye blinking, coughing, throat clearing, sniffing and odd facial movements, primarily during childhood and adolescence, and have normal life expectancy and intelligence, she added.
"It's a @!#$ shame that ignorance about this disorder is still so widespread," she said. "I mean, really, you'd think by now these $#%&ers would have grown up. It just makes me @!#$ to the #$*&*, when I see %$&^-#$%^ing #$%^ @$$holes like this behaving this way towards us."
Armbrister then spat, made a strange monkey-like sound in her throat, and abruptly ended the press conference.
