Lewis Capaldi has been very open about his Tourette's syndrome diagnosis. The Scottish singer opened up about his diagnosis last year, and filmed a Netflix documentary which looks at his battle with the condition and the impact it has on his mental health.
On Saturday, the 26-year-old performed at Glastonbury Festival but was unable to sing parts of some of his songs as his ticks took over and he struggled with his voice. He told the crowd: "We’re gonna play two more songs if that’s okay, even if I can’t sing properly. I’m really sorry before I go any further. You’ve all come out and I’m really apologising. My voice is packing in."
Earlier this year he announced he was taking a break from shows in the run-up to Glastonbury after admitting his Tourette's symptoms were "getting quite bad" when he is performing on stage. He went public with the diagnosis last year and said he did so because he didn't want people to think he was "taking cocaine or something."
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The singer is set to perform at Chepstow next week but he admitted on Saturday he may need to take a break for the rest of the year.
What is Tourette's syndrome?
According to the NHS, Tourette's syndrome is a condition that causes a person to make involuntary sounds and movements called tics. It usually starts in childhood but some people, like Lewis, may not get any signs of it until later in life.
The tics and other symptoms usually improve after several years, and sometimes they go away completely. There is no cure for the condition but treatment can help manage symptoms. Lewis has revealed he is having botox in his shoulder to help the tix he has there.
Tics can be worse on some days than others, they may be worse during times of stress, anxiety and tiredness. Lewis has revealed in the past that making music and performing on stage can often exasperate his tics. He said: "It's only making music that does this to me, otherwise I can be fine for months at a time, so it's a weird situation. Right now, the trade-off is worth it, but if it gets to a point where I'm doing irreparable damage to myself, I'll quit. I hate hyperbole but it is a very real possibility that I will have to pack music in."
What causes Tourette's syndrome?
The cause of Tourette's is unknown but it is thought to be linked to a part of the brain that helps regulate body movements. According to the NHS, boys are more likely to be affected by it than girls.
People with the condition may also have obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or learning difficulties.
What are the symptoms of Tourette's syndrome?
Tics are the main symptom of the condition. People with Tourette's have a combination of physical and vocal tics.
Examples of physical tics include:
- blinking
- eye rolling
- grimacing
- shoulder shrugging
- jerking of the head or limbs
- jumping
- twirling
- touching objects and other people
Examples of vocal tics include:
- grunting
- throat clearing
- whistling
- coughing
- tongue clicking
- animal sounds
- saying random words and phrases
- repeating a sound, word or phrase
- swearing
According to the NHS, swearing is rare and only affects about one in 10 people with Tourette's.
Most people with Tourette's experience a strong urge before a tic, compared to the feeling of needing to sneeze. These feelings are known as premonitory sensations. Premonitory sensations are only relieved after the tic has been carried out.
According to the NHS, examples of premonitory sensations include:
- a burning feeling in the eyes before blinking
- a dry or sore throat before grunting
- an itchy joint or muscle before jerking
How do they diagnose Tourette's?
There is no test for the condition but tests and scans such as an MRI may be used to rule out other conditions. You can be diagnosed with Tourette's if you have had several tics for at least a year.
