Madi's Speech: Teen with Tourette Syndrome embraces life
By Cathy Zimmerman
By Cathy Zimmerman
The Daily News The Daily News Online
She's bubbly, beguiling and articulate, so it's a jolt when Madi Allis lets out with a violent fusillade of harsh syllables, grunts and burps. As fast as they happen, they're gone. And Madi glides along, describing her interests, plans and the "best part" of who she is: Tourette Syndrome.The Longview 18-year-old was diagnosed in third grade with the brain disorder that causes "tics" — uncontrollable vocal outbursts and muscle spasms.Named for Gilles de la Tourette, the French neuropsychiatrist who first diagnosed the disorder in the late 1800's, Tourette is a genetic anomaly that is thought to affect the brain chemicals dopamine and seratonin.
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