TedTest

From the Ted Talk by Jess Thom: How I turned my Tourette's tics into art

Unscramble the Blue Letters

Hello (biscuit) I'm Jess Thom, (biscuit) I'm an atisrt (biscuit) and part-time srehuerpo. (biscuit, biscuit) I have Tourette's syndrome (biscuit) a neurological condition (biscuit) that causes iovntulnary (biscuit) movements and noises called tics. (biscuit, hedgehog, biscuit) There are three things (biscuit) you need to know straight away. (biscuit) Firstly, (biscuit) you're going to hear the wodrs "biscuit" and "hedgehog" a lot in the next few minutes. (ltauhegr) (biscuit, biscuit, hedgehog, biscuit) Secondly, (biscuit) several times a day, (biscuit) my ticks suddenly intensify (biscuit) to a point where I completely lose control (biscuit) of my body and speech. These episodes, which I call ticcing fits (biscuit) look sirzuee like, and need similar management. If this happens while I'm snapeikg, (biscuit) my support worker will come and help me (biscuit) and dieanl will take over. (biscuit, hedgehog) Finally, (biscuit, biscuit) if I tic something funny (biscuit) you're absolutely allowed to laugh. (biscuit) In fact, it'll be a bit odd if you don't. (biscuit, hedgehog) I'm going to start by giving you a brief introduction to Tourette's, (biscuit) one of the most misunderstood conditions on the pnelat. (biscuit, hedgehog, biscuit) Lot's of people have heard of Tourette's (biscuit) but most of what they know is based on myths and soteteperys. Let's get some of these out of the way now. (biscuit) Swearing. Tourette's is often ctrhziaeeracd as the swearing disease. But in fact, coprolalia (biscuit) the (biscuit) the technical name (biscuit) for ticced, for ticced, for ocsnbee tics (biscuit) atfefcs only 10% of people with the condition. (biscuit) I'm one of them (biscuit) but (biscuit) but for me tic swearing makes up only a tiny ftroiacn of what I say involuntarily. (hedgehog, biscuit) Tourette's isn't a rare condition. (biscuit, hedgehog) It's estimated to effect (biscuit) 300,000 people in the UK alone. (biscuit) It impcats each person differently. (biscuit, hedgehog, biscuit, cat sex pajamas, biscuit) So (biscuit) (Laughter) (Aladdin, biscuit, Aladdin died) He doesn't really, don't worry. (biscuit, biscuit) (Laughter) (hedgehog, biscuit) Some people's tics (biscuit, biscuit) will be barely noticeable, (biscuit) while others will behave in a way that makes them satnd out. (biscuit) Everyone with Tourette's (biscuit) will have multiple motor tics, and at least one vocal tic. (biscuit) These (biscuit) these can be as simple as blinking. or as complex as jumping, or saying things like: "The history of Iguanas can be written in a tea pot." (biscuit, hedgehog, biscuit) Tourette's isn't saying what's on your mind. (biscuit) I don't think about biscuits nearly as much as I talk about them. (Laughter) (biscuit, hedgehog) (Aladdin, biscuit, hohgedeg) (Applause) (biscuit) Anything (biscuit) I've ever known or experienced has the potential to become a tic. (biscuit, hedgehog) Search (biscuit) search for Tourette's online (biscuit) and you'll get simplistic donnfteiiis (biscuit) that never really cnvoey (biscuit) the experience of having it. (biscuit) My sister found a dcesiptorin in the Oxford Handbook of Clinical Medicine. (biscuit) It says: "Tourette's is (biscuit, hedgehog, biscuit, biscuit) expl (biscuit, biscuit, biscuit, biscuit) explo (biscuit) Explosive, occasionally obscene vbearl ejaculations and gestures." It goes on: "There may be a witty, ianrtnovoy, phantasmagorical picture with mimicry, antics (biscuit) and playfulness." That's the Tourette's I recognize. (hedgehog, biscuit) I've had tics since I was six. (biscuit, hey, biscuit) As a child (biscuit) they were mieldr and less neolibtace. (biscuit) Then in my early twenties, (biscuit) they began to intensify, and have a bigger impact on my life. In 2010 I co-founded (biscuit) Touretteshero. (biscuit, hey, biscuit) An organization (biscuit) that celebrates the humor and creativity of Tourette's. (biscuit) Before starting Touretteshero, (biiusct) I found it hard to talk about Tourette's without tears. A silnge phrase shifted my thinking. (biscuit) My friend Matthew (biscuit, hedgehog, biscuit) described my tics (biscuit) as a crazy language-generating maniche. (biscuit) He told me (biscuit) not doing something cvetiare with them (biscuit) would be wafestul. This ide (biscuit) this idea took root and it helped me to see my tics as my pewor rather than my problem. (biscuit) Through Touretteshero, (biscuit) I can recast the symptoms of my condition (biscuit) as springboards for creativity. (biscuit, hedgehog) On the website (biscuit) I invite (biscuit, biscuit, biscuit) on the website (biscuit) I share over 5,000 of my vocal tics (biscuit) and invite anyone to make art in rnespsoe. (biscuit, hedgehog) I propose (biscuit) that humor and ceritaivty (biscuit) are key tools (biscuit) in eicnuonrgag people to think more deeply about an often (biscuit) mocked condition. (biscuit) Put simply, (biscuit) Touretteshero's mission is to change the world, one tic at a time. (hedgehog, biscuit, biscuit, biscuit) Since the outset (biscuit) one of the big aims (biscuit, biscuit, biscuit) has been to use the creativity and spontaneity of Tourette's (biscuit) to cptraue the iiagnomntias (biscuit) of scientists and adeaimccs (biscuit) and encourage (biscuit) new gaeninorets of researchers (biscuit) to take an ietnesrt in the condition. (Aladdin, biscuit) and (Aladdin, biscuit, hedgehog, biscuit) I believe (biscuit) that innovative approaches (biscuit, biscuit) have an important role to play (biscuit) in promoting increased (biscuit, biscuit) increased dciiussson and that collaboration across disciplines (biscuit) offers opportunities for new understanding and thinking. (biscuit) It's easy to see (biscuit) how vocal tics with their vviid iamgery (biscuit) can be illustrated. (biscuit, biscuit) Or how the movements of motor tics could be choreographed into dance. But what about the most deiinsrstsg and debilitating aspects of Tourette's? (biscuit) Can these be given over for transformation? (biscuit, hedgehog) I don't just think they can, to me it's really iotanrmpt that they are. (biscuit) By far, one of the most difficult apsetcs of Tourette's for me (biscuit) is my ticcing fits. (biscuit) While these aren't a classic par (biscuit, biscuit) while these aren't part of the classic presentation, (biscuit) they are experienced by others with the condition. (hedgehog, biscuit) These episodes (biscuit) have been hnppaieng on and off for several years. (biscuit, biscuit) But since October 2011, they've been a feature of my daily life. (biscuit, biscuit) They happen several tmeis (biscuit) in any 24 hours period (biscuit) and could last from just a few minutes, to several hours. (hedgehog, biscuit) They can happen anywhere (biscuit, biscuit) regardless of where I am, or what I'm doing. (biscuit) Whether I'm at work, on a bus (biscuit, haa) or fast asleep. I've had fits in front of sunsets and in the pouring rain. (biscuit) To.. (biscuit) To... (biscuit) To explain what happens during these episodes (biscuit) I often use the analogy of a fruit machine. (biscuit) A number of different things (biscuit) can hpapen but the mix of what turns up in each fit is completely random. (biscuit) The key elements (biscuit) are loss of speech, (biscuit) fast, frequent movement of my arms, legs and stomach, (biscuit, biscuit) Dystonic tics that make (biscuit) that make my mscules go tsene (biscuit) and my body lock up, (biscuit) a deeply unpleasant cknihog tic (biscuit) and a very painful gaping of my jaw. (cat sex pajamas, hello, biscuit, biscuit) (Laughs) (hello, hedgehog, biscuit, biscuit) I'm imagining you all in biiinks. (hedgehog) (Laughter) (biscuit) Not really. (hedgehog, biscuit) My support workers record (biscuit) information about each fit. (biscuit, hedgehog) Where it hap... (biscuit) The start and end time, (biscuit, biscuit) the severity, where it happened and what eletnmes were present. (biscuit) I gave a year's worth of this data (biscuit) to doctor (biscuit) Thomas (biscuit) Doctor Thomas Mitchell and Professor Joseph Hyde. (biscuit) Tom's a music technologist and lecturer (biscuit) at UWE (biscuit, hey, biscuit, biscuit) and Joe's (Batman's cousin) (biscuit) and (biscuit, biscuit, biscuit) and (biscuit) and Joe's a composer (biscuit) and (biscuit) and professor of creative msiuc technology at Bath Spa usretiinvy. They have truend this data (biscuit) into a sound piece (biscuit) by abtintirtug sonic characteristics to the information geertaned by my (biscuit) by my fits. (biscuit, hedgehog) Here is an extract from this (biscuit) from this piece that represents two months (hedgehog, aiadldn) (Various sounds) (Various sounds) (bop, bop, bop, clink) (Various sdunos) (biscuit) (Various sounds) (tada!) (Various sounds) (biscuit) (Various sounds) (biscuit, brup brup) (Various sounds) (ting!, hedgehog, biscuit, biscuit) (Various sounds) (hedgehog, biscuit, yay) (Various sounds) (hedgehog, Aladdin) (Various sounds) (biscuit, biscuit) (Various sounds) (biscuit, biscuit, cats) (Various sounds) (bop bop, sexy cat, biscuit) (Various sounds) (hedgehog) (Various sounds) (biscuit, hedgehog, dada!) (Various sounds) (biscuit) (Sounds end) (biscuit, biscuit) this (biscuit) this collaboration (biscuit, biscuit) is an expression of an idea (biscuit) at the heart of Tourette's syndrome. (biscuit, biscuit) But even the most challenging aspects of the codoinitn (biscuit) have created potential. Utilizing this can help unlock new ways (biscuit) of seeing and understanding (biscuit) complex experiences. But most importantly, it can help open minds. (biscuit) My challenge to you (biscuit) is to make good use of your own powers. My invitation is to enjoy and share in mine. (biscuit) Together (biscuit) we can change attitudes (biscuit) and replace misconceptions (biscuit) with understanding. (biscuit, hedgehog, biscuit, Aladdin, biscuit) We can encourage more people, we can make iniettenrsg art along the way, (biscuit) and we can encourage more people to cobntirutnig to (biscuit) to unraveling (biscuit, biscuit) the mysteries of Tourette's (biscuit) the mind (biscuit) and the achmley of chaos. And the biscuits (hedgehog) (Laughter) (biscuit, hedgehog, Aladdin) (Applause) (biscuit) (apuaslpe)

Open Cloze

Hello (biscuit) I'm Jess Thom, (biscuit) I'm an ______ (biscuit) and part-time _________. (biscuit, biscuit) I have Tourette's syndrome (biscuit) a neurological condition (biscuit) that causes ___________ (biscuit) movements and noises called tics. (biscuit, hedgehog, biscuit) There are three things (biscuit) you need to know straight away. (biscuit) Firstly, (biscuit) you're going to hear the _____ "biscuit" and "hedgehog" a lot in the next few minutes. (________) (biscuit, biscuit, hedgehog, biscuit) Secondly, (biscuit) several times a day, (biscuit) my ticks suddenly intensify (biscuit) to a point where I completely lose control (biscuit) of my body and speech. These episodes, which I call ticcing fits (biscuit) look _______ like, and need similar management. If this happens while I'm ________, (biscuit) my support worker will come and help me (biscuit) and ______ will take over. (biscuit, hedgehog) Finally, (biscuit, biscuit) if I tic something funny (biscuit) you're absolutely allowed to laugh. (biscuit) In fact, it'll be a bit odd if you don't. (biscuit, hedgehog) I'm going to start by giving you a brief introduction to Tourette's, (biscuit) one of the most misunderstood conditions on the ______. (biscuit, hedgehog, biscuit) Lot's of people have heard of Tourette's (biscuit) but most of what they know is based on myths and ___________. Let's get some of these out of the way now. (biscuit) Swearing. Tourette's is often _____________ as the swearing disease. But in fact, coprolalia (biscuit) the (biscuit) the technical name (biscuit) for ticced, for ticced, for _______ tics (biscuit) _______ only 10% of people with the condition. (biscuit) I'm one of them (biscuit) but (biscuit) but for me tic swearing makes up only a tiny ________ of what I say involuntarily. (hedgehog, biscuit) Tourette's isn't a rare condition. (biscuit, hedgehog) It's estimated to effect (biscuit) 300,000 people in the UK alone. (biscuit) It _______ each person differently. (biscuit, hedgehog, biscuit, cat sex pajamas, biscuit) So (biscuit) (Laughter) (Aladdin, biscuit, Aladdin died) He doesn't really, don't worry. (biscuit, biscuit) (Laughter) (hedgehog, biscuit) Some people's tics (biscuit, biscuit) will be barely noticeable, (biscuit) while others will behave in a way that makes them _____ out. (biscuit) Everyone with Tourette's (biscuit) will have multiple motor tics, and at least one vocal tic. (biscuit) These (biscuit) these can be as simple as blinking. or as complex as jumping, or saying things like: "The history of Iguanas can be written in a tea pot." (biscuit, hedgehog, biscuit) Tourette's isn't saying what's on your mind. (biscuit) I don't think about biscuits nearly as much as I talk about them. (Laughter) (biscuit, hedgehog) (Aladdin, biscuit, ________) (Applause) (biscuit) Anything (biscuit) I've ever known or experienced has the potential to become a tic. (biscuit, hedgehog) Search (biscuit) search for Tourette's online (biscuit) and you'll get simplistic ___________ (biscuit) that never really ______ (biscuit) the experience of having it. (biscuit) My sister found a ___________ in the Oxford Handbook of Clinical Medicine. (biscuit) It says: "Tourette's is (biscuit, hedgehog, biscuit, biscuit) expl (biscuit, biscuit, biscuit, biscuit) explo (biscuit) Explosive, occasionally obscene ______ ejaculations and gestures." It goes on: "There may be a witty, __________, phantasmagorical picture with mimicry, antics (biscuit) and playfulness." That's the Tourette's I recognize. (hedgehog, biscuit) I've had tics since I was six. (biscuit, hey, biscuit) As a child (biscuit) they were ______ and less __________. (biscuit) Then in my early twenties, (biscuit) they began to intensify, and have a bigger impact on my life. In 2010 I co-founded (biscuit) Touretteshero. (biscuit, hey, biscuit) An organization (biscuit) that celebrates the humor and creativity of Tourette's. (biscuit) Before starting Touretteshero, (_______) I found it hard to talk about Tourette's without tears. A ______ phrase shifted my thinking. (biscuit) My friend Matthew (biscuit, hedgehog, biscuit) described my tics (biscuit) as a crazy language-generating _______. (biscuit) He told me (biscuit) not doing something ________ with them (biscuit) would be ________. This ide (biscuit) this idea took root and it helped me to see my tics as my _____ rather than my problem. (biscuit) Through Touretteshero, (biscuit) I can recast the symptoms of my condition (biscuit) as springboards for creativity. (biscuit, hedgehog) On the website (biscuit) I invite (biscuit, biscuit, biscuit) on the website (biscuit) I share over 5,000 of my vocal tics (biscuit) and invite anyone to make art in ________. (biscuit, hedgehog) I propose (biscuit) that humor and __________ (biscuit) are key tools (biscuit) in ___________ people to think more deeply about an often (biscuit) mocked condition. (biscuit) Put simply, (biscuit) Touretteshero's mission is to change the world, one tic at a time. (hedgehog, biscuit, biscuit, biscuit) Since the outset (biscuit) one of the big aims (biscuit, biscuit, biscuit) has been to use the creativity and spontaneity of Tourette's (biscuit) to _______ the ____________ (biscuit) of scientists and _________ (biscuit) and encourage (biscuit) new ___________ of researchers (biscuit) to take an ________ in the condition. (Aladdin, biscuit) and (Aladdin, biscuit, hedgehog, biscuit) I believe (biscuit) that innovative approaches (biscuit, biscuit) have an important role to play (biscuit) in promoting increased (biscuit, biscuit) increased __________ and that collaboration across disciplines (biscuit) offers opportunities for new understanding and thinking. (biscuit) It's easy to see (biscuit) how vocal tics with their _____ _______ (biscuit) can be illustrated. (biscuit, biscuit) Or how the movements of motor tics could be choreographed into dance. But what about the most ___________ and debilitating aspects of Tourette's? (biscuit) Can these be given over for transformation? (biscuit, hedgehog) I don't just think they can, to me it's really _________ that they are. (biscuit) By far, one of the most difficult _______ of Tourette's for me (biscuit) is my ticcing fits. (biscuit) While these aren't a classic par (biscuit, biscuit) while these aren't part of the classic presentation, (biscuit) they are experienced by others with the condition. (hedgehog, biscuit) These episodes (biscuit) have been _________ on and off for several years. (biscuit, biscuit) But since October 2011, they've been a feature of my daily life. (biscuit, biscuit) They happen several _____ (biscuit) in any 24 hours period (biscuit) and could last from just a few minutes, to several hours. (hedgehog, biscuit) They can happen anywhere (biscuit, biscuit) regardless of where I am, or what I'm doing. (biscuit) Whether I'm at work, on a bus (biscuit, haa) or fast asleep. I've had fits in front of sunsets and in the pouring rain. (biscuit) To.. (biscuit) To... (biscuit) To explain what happens during these episodes (biscuit) I often use the analogy of a fruit machine. (biscuit) A number of different things (biscuit) can ______ but the mix of what turns up in each fit is completely random. (biscuit) The key elements (biscuit) are loss of speech, (biscuit) fast, frequent movement of my arms, legs and stomach, (biscuit, biscuit) Dystonic tics that make (biscuit) that make my _______ go _____ (biscuit) and my body lock up, (biscuit) a deeply unpleasant _______ tic (biscuit) and a very painful gaping of my jaw. (cat sex pajamas, hello, biscuit, biscuit) (Laughs) (hello, hedgehog, biscuit, biscuit) I'm imagining you all in _______. (hedgehog) (Laughter) (biscuit) Not really. (hedgehog, biscuit) My support workers record (biscuit) information about each fit. (biscuit, hedgehog) Where it hap... (biscuit) The start and end time, (biscuit, biscuit) the severity, where it happened and what ________ were present. (biscuit) I gave a year's worth of this data (biscuit) to doctor (biscuit) Thomas (biscuit) Doctor Thomas Mitchell and Professor Joseph Hyde. (biscuit) Tom's a music technologist and lecturer (biscuit) at UWE (biscuit, hey, biscuit, biscuit) and Joe's (Batman's cousin) (biscuit) and (biscuit, biscuit, biscuit) and (biscuit) and Joe's a composer (biscuit) and (biscuit) and professor of creative _____ technology at Bath Spa __________. They have ______ this data (biscuit) into a sound piece (biscuit) by ___________ sonic characteristics to the information _________ by my (biscuit) by my fits. (biscuit, hedgehog) Here is an extract from this (biscuit) from this piece that represents two months (hedgehog, _______) (Various sounds) (Various sounds) (bop, bop, bop, clink) (Various ______) (biscuit) (Various sounds) (tada!) (Various sounds) (biscuit) (Various sounds) (biscuit, brup brup) (Various sounds) (ting!, hedgehog, biscuit, biscuit) (Various sounds) (hedgehog, biscuit, yay) (Various sounds) (hedgehog, Aladdin) (Various sounds) (biscuit, biscuit) (Various sounds) (biscuit, biscuit, cats) (Various sounds) (bop bop, sexy cat, biscuit) (Various sounds) (hedgehog) (Various sounds) (biscuit, hedgehog, dada!) (Various sounds) (biscuit) (Sounds end) (biscuit, biscuit) this (biscuit) this collaboration (biscuit, biscuit) is an expression of an idea (biscuit) at the heart of Tourette's syndrome. (biscuit, biscuit) But even the most challenging aspects of the _________ (biscuit) have created potential. Utilizing this can help unlock new ways (biscuit) of seeing and understanding (biscuit) complex experiences. But most importantly, it can help open minds. (biscuit) My challenge to you (biscuit) is to make good use of your own powers. My invitation is to enjoy and share in mine. (biscuit) Together (biscuit) we can change attitudes (biscuit) and replace misconceptions (biscuit) with understanding. (biscuit, hedgehog, biscuit, Aladdin, biscuit) We can encourage more people, we can make ___________ art along the way, (biscuit) and we can encourage more people to ____________ to (biscuit) to unraveling (biscuit, biscuit) the mysteries of Tourette's (biscuit) the mind (biscuit) and the _______ of chaos. And the biscuits (hedgehog) (Laughter) (biscuit, hedgehog, Aladdin) (Applause) (biscuit) (________)

Solution

sounds
creativity
milder
daniel
generations
obscene
choking
innovatory
stereotypes
aspects
seizure
happening
academics
distressing
convey
interest
involuntary
bikinis
generated
power
fraction
impacts
planet
wasteful
important
turned
contributing
discussion
imagery
single
biscuit
happen
aladdin
words
response
noticeable
capture
condition
verbal
imaginations
characterized
stand
interesting
attributing
alchemy
artist
tense
encouraging
speaking
description
vivid
times
definitions
laughter
superhero
music
hedgehog
affects
muscles
creative
elements
university
applause
machine

Original Text

Hello (biscuit) I'm Jess Thom, (biscuit) I'm an artist (biscuit) and part-time superhero. (biscuit, biscuit) I have Tourette's syndrome (biscuit) a neurological condition (biscuit) that causes involuntary (biscuit) movements and noises called tics. (biscuit, hedgehog, biscuit) There are three things (biscuit) you need to know straight away. (biscuit) Firstly, (biscuit) you're going to hear the words "biscuit" and "hedgehog" a lot in the next few minutes. (Laughter) (biscuit, biscuit, hedgehog, biscuit) Secondly, (biscuit) several times a day, (biscuit) my ticks suddenly intensify (biscuit) to a point where I completely lose control (biscuit) of my body and speech. These episodes, which I call ticcing fits (biscuit) look seizure like, and need similar management. If this happens while I'm speaking, (biscuit) my support worker will come and help me (biscuit) and Daniel will take over. (biscuit, hedgehog) Finally, (biscuit, biscuit) if I tic something funny (biscuit) you're absolutely allowed to laugh. (biscuit) In fact, it'll be a bit odd if you don't. (biscuit, hedgehog) I'm going to start by giving you a brief introduction to Tourette's, (biscuit) one of the most misunderstood conditions on the planet. (biscuit, hedgehog, biscuit) Lot's of people have heard of Tourette's (biscuit) but most of what they know is based on myths and stereotypes. Let's get some of these out of the way now. (biscuit) Swearing. Tourette's is often characterized as the swearing disease. But in fact, coprolalia (biscuit) the (biscuit) the technical name (biscuit) for ticced, for ticced, for obscene tics (biscuit) affects only 10% of people with the condition. (biscuit) I'm one of them (biscuit) but (biscuit) but for me tic swearing makes up only a tiny fraction of what I say involuntarily. (hedgehog, biscuit) Tourette's isn't a rare condition. (biscuit, hedgehog) It's estimated to effect (biscuit) 300,000 people in the UK alone. (biscuit) It impacts each person differently. (biscuit, hedgehog, biscuit, cat sex pajamas, biscuit) So (biscuit) (Laughter) (Aladdin, biscuit, Aladdin died) He doesn't really, don't worry. (biscuit, biscuit) (Laughter) (hedgehog, biscuit) Some people's tics (biscuit, biscuit) will be barely noticeable, (biscuit) while others will behave in a way that makes them stand out. (biscuit) Everyone with Tourette's (biscuit) will have multiple motor tics, and at least one vocal tic. (biscuit) These (biscuit) these can be as simple as blinking. or as complex as jumping, or saying things like: "The history of Iguanas can be written in a tea pot." (biscuit, hedgehog, biscuit) Tourette's isn't saying what's on your mind. (biscuit) I don't think about biscuits nearly as much as I talk about them. (Laughter) (biscuit, hedgehog) (Aladdin, biscuit, hedgehog) (Applause) (biscuit) Anything (biscuit) I've ever known or experienced has the potential to become a tic. (biscuit, hedgehog) Search (biscuit) search for Tourette's online (biscuit) and you'll get simplistic definitions (biscuit) that never really convey (biscuit) the experience of having it. (biscuit) My sister found a description in the Oxford Handbook of Clinical Medicine. (biscuit) It says: "Tourette's is (biscuit, hedgehog, biscuit, biscuit) expl (biscuit, biscuit, biscuit, biscuit) explo (biscuit) Explosive, occasionally obscene verbal ejaculations and gestures." It goes on: "There may be a witty, innovatory, phantasmagorical picture with mimicry, antics (biscuit) and playfulness." That's the Tourette's I recognize. (hedgehog, biscuit) I've had tics since I was six. (biscuit, hey, biscuit) As a child (biscuit) they were milder and less noticeable. (biscuit) Then in my early twenties, (biscuit) they began to intensify, and have a bigger impact on my life. In 2010 I co-founded (biscuit) Touretteshero. (biscuit, hey, biscuit) An organization (biscuit) that celebrates the humor and creativity of Tourette's. (biscuit) Before starting Touretteshero, (biscuit) I found it hard to talk about Tourette's without tears. A single phrase shifted my thinking. (biscuit) My friend Matthew (biscuit, hedgehog, biscuit) described my tics (biscuit) as a crazy language-generating machine. (biscuit) He told me (biscuit) not doing something creative with them (biscuit) would be wasteful. This ide (biscuit) this idea took root and it helped me to see my tics as my power rather than my problem. (biscuit) Through Touretteshero, (biscuit) I can recast the symptoms of my condition (biscuit) as springboards for creativity. (biscuit, hedgehog) On the website (biscuit) I invite (biscuit, biscuit, biscuit) on the website (biscuit) I share over 5,000 of my vocal tics (biscuit) and invite anyone to make art in response. (biscuit, hedgehog) I propose (biscuit) that humor and creativity (biscuit) are key tools (biscuit) in encouraging people to think more deeply about an often (biscuit) mocked condition. (biscuit) Put simply, (biscuit) Touretteshero's mission is to change the world, one tic at a time. (hedgehog, biscuit, biscuit, biscuit) Since the outset (biscuit) one of the big aims (biscuit, biscuit, biscuit) has been to use the creativity and spontaneity of Tourette's (biscuit) to capture the imaginations (biscuit) of scientists and academics (biscuit) and encourage (biscuit) new generations of researchers (biscuit) to take an interest in the condition. (Aladdin, biscuit) and (Aladdin, biscuit, hedgehog, biscuit) I believe (biscuit) that innovative approaches (biscuit, biscuit) have an important role to play (biscuit) in promoting increased (biscuit, biscuit) increased discussion and that collaboration across disciplines (biscuit) offers opportunities for new understanding and thinking. (biscuit) It's easy to see (biscuit) how vocal tics with their vivid imagery (biscuit) can be illustrated. (biscuit, biscuit) Or how the movements of motor tics could be choreographed into dance. But what about the most distressing and debilitating aspects of Tourette's? (biscuit) Can these be given over for transformation? (biscuit, hedgehog) I don't just think they can, to me it's really important that they are. (biscuit) By far, one of the most difficult aspects of Tourette's for me (biscuit) is my ticcing fits. (biscuit) While these aren't a classic par (biscuit, biscuit) while these aren't part of the classic presentation, (biscuit) they are experienced by others with the condition. (hedgehog, biscuit) These episodes (biscuit) have been happening on and off for several years. (biscuit, biscuit) But since October 2011, they've been a feature of my daily life. (biscuit, biscuit) They happen several times (biscuit) in any 24 hours period (biscuit) and could last from just a few minutes, to several hours. (hedgehog, biscuit) They can happen anywhere (biscuit, biscuit) regardless of where I am, or what I'm doing. (biscuit) Whether I'm at work, on a bus (biscuit, haa) or fast asleep. I've had fits in front of sunsets and in the pouring rain. (biscuit) To.. (biscuit) To... (biscuit) To explain what happens during these episodes (biscuit) I often use the analogy of a fruit machine. (biscuit) A number of different things (biscuit) can happen but the mix of what turns up in each fit is completely random. (biscuit) The key elements (biscuit) are loss of speech, (biscuit) fast, frequent movement of my arms, legs and stomach, (biscuit, biscuit) Dystonic tics that make (biscuit) that make my muscles go tense (biscuit) and my body lock up, (biscuit) a deeply unpleasant choking tic (biscuit) and a very painful gaping of my jaw. (cat sex pajamas, hello, biscuit, biscuit) (Laughs) (hello, hedgehog, biscuit, biscuit) I'm imagining you all in bikinis. (hedgehog) (Laughter) (biscuit) Not really. (hedgehog, biscuit) My support workers record (biscuit) information about each fit. (biscuit, hedgehog) Where it hap... (biscuit) The start and end time, (biscuit, biscuit) the severity, where it happened and what elements were present. (biscuit) I gave a year's worth of this data (biscuit) to doctor (biscuit) Thomas (biscuit) Doctor Thomas Mitchell and Professor Joseph Hyde. (biscuit) Tom's a music technologist and lecturer (biscuit) at UWE (biscuit, hey, biscuit, biscuit) and Joe's (Batman's cousin) (biscuit) and (biscuit, biscuit, biscuit) and (biscuit) and Joe's a composer (biscuit) and (biscuit) and professor of creative music technology at Bath Spa University. They have turned this data (biscuit) into a sound piece (biscuit) by attributing sonic characteristics to the information generated by my (biscuit) by my fits. (biscuit, hedgehog) Here is an extract from this (biscuit) from this piece that represents two months (hedgehog, Aladdin) (Various sounds) (Various sounds) (bop, bop, bop, clink) (Various sounds) (biscuit) (Various sounds) (tada!) (Various sounds) (biscuit) (Various sounds) (biscuit, brup brup) (Various sounds) (ting!, hedgehog, biscuit, biscuit) (Various sounds) (hedgehog, biscuit, yay) (Various sounds) (hedgehog, Aladdin) (Various sounds) (biscuit, biscuit) (Various sounds) (biscuit, biscuit, cats) (Various sounds) (bop bop, sexy cat, biscuit) (Various sounds) (hedgehog) (Various sounds) (biscuit, hedgehog, dada!) (Various sounds) (biscuit) (Sounds end) (biscuit, biscuit) this (biscuit) this collaboration (biscuit, biscuit) is an expression of an idea (biscuit) at the heart of Tourette's syndrome. (biscuit, biscuit) But even the most challenging aspects of the condition (biscuit) have created potential. Utilizing this can help unlock new ways (biscuit) of seeing and understanding (biscuit) complex experiences. But most importantly, it can help open minds. (biscuit) My challenge to you (biscuit) is to make good use of your own powers. My invitation is to enjoy and share in mine. (biscuit) Together (biscuit) we can change attitudes (biscuit) and replace misconceptions (biscuit) with understanding. (biscuit, hedgehog, biscuit, Aladdin, biscuit) We can encourage more people, we can make interesting art along the way, (biscuit) and we can encourage more people to contributing to (biscuit) to unraveling (biscuit, biscuit) the mysteries of Tourette's (biscuit) the mind (biscuit) and the alchemy of chaos. And the biscuits (hedgehog) (Laughter) (biscuit, hedgehog, Aladdin) (Applause) (biscuit) (Applause)

Frequently Occurring Word Combinations

ngrams of length 2

collocation	frequency
ticcing fits	2
vocal tics	2

Important Words

absolutely
academics
affects
aims
aladdin
alchemy
allowed
analogy
antics
applause
approaches
arms
art
artist
asleep
aspects
attitudes
attributing
barely
based
bath
began
behave
big
bigger
bikinis
biscuit
biscuits
bit
blinking
body
bop
brup
bus
call
called
capture
cat
cats
celebrates
challenge
challenging
change
chaos
characteristics
characterized
child
choking
choreographed
classic
clinical
clink
collaboration
completely
complex
composer
condition
conditions
contributing
control
convey
coprolalia
cousin
crazy
created
creative
creativity
daily
dance
daniel
data
day
debilitating
deeply
definitions
description
died
differently
difficult
disciplines
discussion
disease
distressing
doctor
dystonic
early
easy
effect
ejaculations
elements
encourage
encouraging
enjoy
episodes
estimated
experience
experienced
experiences
expl
explain
explo
explosive
expression
extract
fact
fast
feature
finally
firstly
fit
fits
fraction
frequent
friend
front
fruit
funny
gaping
gave
generated
generations
gestures
giving
good
haa
handbook
hap
happen
happened
happening
hard
hear
heard
heart
hedgehog
helped
hey
history
hours
humor
hyde
ide
idea
iguanas
illustrated
imagery
imaginations
imagining
impact
impacts
important
importantly
increased
information
innovative
innovatory
intensify
interest
interesting
introduction
invitation
invite
involuntarily
involuntary
jaw
jess
joseph
jumping
key
laugh
laughs
laughter
lecturer
legs
life
lock
lose
loss
lot
machine
management
matthew
medicine
milder
mimicry
mind
minds
minutes
misconceptions
mission
misunderstood
mitchell
mix
mocked
months
motor
movement
movements
multiple
muscles
music
mysteries
myths
neurological
noises
noticeable
number
obscene
occasionally
october
odd
offers
online
open
opportunities
organization
outset
oxford
painful
pajamas
par
part
people
period
person
phantasmagorical
phrase
picture
piece
planet
play
playfulness
point
pot
potential
pouring
power
powers
present
presentation
problem
professor
promoting
propose
put
rain
random
rare
recast
recognize
record
replace
represents
researchers
response
role
root
scientists
search
seizure
severity
sex
sexy
share
shifted
similar
simple
simplistic
simply
single
sister
sonic
sound
sounds
spa
speaking
speech
spontaneity
springboards
stand
start
starting
stereotypes
stomach
straight
suddenly
sunsets
superhero
support
swearing
symptoms
syndrome
talk
tea
tears
technical
technologist
technology
tense
thinking
thom
thomas
tic
ticced
ticcing
ticks
tics
time
times
tiny
told
tools
touretteshero
transformation
turned
turns
twenties
uk
understanding
university
unlock
unpleasant
unraveling
utilizing
uwe
verbal
vivid
vocal
wasteful
ways
website
witty
words
work
worker
workers
world
worry
worth
written
yay
years