A condition once considered rare and bizarre is more common than many realize.

According to the Tourette Syndrome Association, up to 10 children per 1,000 have a disorder that manifests itself with both verbal and physical tics.

"Fortunately most cases of Tourette's are mild but some can be severe," said Dr. Jonathan Hoffman, a Weston psychologist who specializes in treating Tourette's.

Such is the case for 13-year-old Haylee Kalick, of Cooper City. She was diagnosed with Tourette's at the start of sixth grade.

"She has everything from vocalizations to body movements head to toe," said her mother Judi Tiyler.

Symptoms typically appear in early childhood and disappear by the late teens or early 20s.

"This is a neuropsychiatric disorder with strong genetic ties," said Hoffman.

Hoffman said dramatized portrayals of Tourette's have created many public misconceptions about the condition.

"The biggest misunderstanding is that people go around swearing and screaming and yelling," he said. "Fortunately, those kinds of cases are rare, less than 15 percent of people have the kind of symptoms you see on TV," Hoffman added.

Treating Tourette's involves occupational therapy, habit reversal training, and in some cases medication.

"There are many options for medication, from anti-depressants to anti-anxiety drugs," Hoffman said. "The key is having the patience to find the right drug and the right dose."

Through a three-pronged approach, Haylee's symptoms are slowly improving. She hopes to one day be free of Tourette's but until then is working to educate others about the condition.

"I just tell them that it can get better, you have to fight it and you don't have to let it control your life," she said.

According to the Tourette Syndrome Association, boys are affected three to four times more than girls.

Tourette's can also be associated with other conditions such as ADHD and Obsessive-Compulsive disorders.

To reach Dr. Jonathan Hoffman call 954-217-1757

To contact the Tourette Syndrome Association Web site.