What is the abusive language syndrome?

Asked by: Neil Kuvalis  |  Last update: July 6, 2025
Score: 4.2/5 (13 votes)

Coprolalia is the medical term used to describe one of the most puzzling and socially stigmatizing symptoms of Tourette Syndrome—the involuntary outburst of obscene words or socially inappropriate and derogatory remarks. Other examples may include references to genitals, excrement and sexual acts.

What is the abusive language?

Abusive language means harsh, violent, profane, or derogatory language which would demean the dignity of an individual and which shall include profanity and racial, ethnic, sexist slurs, or slurs based on color, religion, or national origin.

What is the disease with verbal outbursts?

Intermittent explosive disorder (IED)

Outbursts include temper tantrums, verbal or physical fights, the harming of an animal, or the damaging of property. Having three or more outbursts within a one-year period resulting in the damage or destruction of property or injury to an animal or person is also a sign of IED.

Why do tourette's make you say random things?

As with other Tourette's syndrome tics, it's thought that coprolalia is a result of 'faulty wiring' in the brain, preventing normal inhibitory function. People with this tic are left unable to suppress unconscious thoughts.

At what age does coprolalia start?

Two sequential British studies from the same referral center group26, 30 revealed a mean age of onset of coprolalia between 14.5 and 15.1 years, with the youngest age that of 6 years,38 whereas the mean age of onset of tics was 7 years (range 7-16 years) and that of vocalizations 11 years (range 4-33 years).

The Man With One of the UK's Most Severe Cases of Tourette’s | This Morning

25 related questions found

What triggers coprolalia?

Aside from Tourette's, brain injuries, strokes, dementia, seizures and many other forms neurological damage can usher the onset of coprolalia as well. It is known to be caused by brain dysfunction, but the details are, as yet, hazy.

What to say when someone uses foul language?

Breathe deeply to calm your nerves, and assert yourself.
  • "Don't speak to me like that. I don't talk to you that way, and I don't deserve this."
  • "I need you to stop cursing at me."
  • "I have asked you three times to stop cursing at me now. It's creating a stressful environment, and I will go to HR for help if I need to."

What are the personality traits of someone with Tourette's?

Behaviors might seem to be excessive silliness, being sassy, free-associative comments, emotional outbursts, contextual swearing, blurting out, inappropriate comments, explosive anger, and oppositional defiance.

What is the disease where you can't stop cursing?

Coprolalia is the medical term used to describe one of the most puzzling and socially stigmatizing symptoms of Tourette Syndrome—the involuntary outburst of obscene words or socially inappropriate and derogatory remarks. Other examples may include references to genitals, excrement and sexual acts.

What is echopraxia in psychiatry?

What is echopraxia? Echopraxia is mimicking the physical movements or facial expressions of someone else. Echopraxia is automatic and involuntary. It's also known as echokinesis or echomotism. For children or people trying to master a new skill, following someone else's movement is natural and a major part of learning.

What not to do to someone with Tourette's?

12 ways to support your friend with Tourette's
  1. Don't stare if your friend has a tic. ...
  2. While having a conversation, try to pretend your friend's tics aren't there. ...
  3. Be patient. ...
  4. Address their tics according to their personal acceptance of them. ...
  5. Don't try to fix them. ...
  6. Don't point out the new tics.

What is dissociative rage?

When one is pathologically angry due to chronic dissociation or repression of existential or appropriate anger, the threshold for anger is gradually diminished. Almost anything can then evoke irritability, annoyance, anger, or even rage—all inappropriate overreactions to the current circumstance.

What is the new treatment for Tourette's?

Deep Brain Stimulation for Tourette Disorder. For young adults or adults with severe symptoms of Tourette disorder that are not adequately controlled with behavioral therapy or medication, an experimental new treatment called deep brain stimulation may offer some relief. Browse our specialists and get the care you need ...

How do I stop abusive language?

Steps
  1. Recognize why you want to stop. Using bad words can reflect poorly upon you. ...
  2. Notice when you curse. Figure out your triggers and bad habits. ...
  3. Enlist help (optional). Tell some trusted, kind friends and family that you want to stop cursing and enlist their help. ...
  4. Brainstorm other ways to express yourself.

What is toxic language?

Toxic language includes communication prohibited by law (such as hate speech) but also other forms of abuse, such as derogatory speech, invasion of privacy, or disrespect. However, not all harmful communication is toxic. Another form of harmful communication is different kinds of threats - both violent and non-violent.

What is the profane language?

The term profanity is often used in a religious sense to refer to language that is blasphemous, sacrilegious, or sometimes merely secular. In a broader sense, profanity is often referred to as expletives, swearing, oaths, cursing, or cussing and by a variety of euphemisms, including four-letter words and foul language.

What do you call a person who always says bad words?

Compulsive swearing is called coprolalia, and it is associated with neurological conditions such as Tourette syndrome, dementia, and epilepsy.

What is the random yelling disorder?

Intermittent explosive disorder involves repeated, sudden bouts of impulsive, aggressive, violent behavior or angry verbal outbursts. The reactions are too extreme for the situation. Road rage, domestic abuse, throwing or breaking objects, or other temper tantrums may be symptoms of intermittent explosive disorder.

Is cursing part of dementia?

With Alzheimer's disease, not only is impulse control lost, so is the ability to find replacement words for the foul ones that come to mind. Therefore, when your loved one searches for another word to say, there is nothing but the swear word to grasp, and this is what comes out verbally.

What is mistaken for Tourette's?

TS is a member of a spectrum of similar conditions collectively called Tic Disorders[2]. This group of conditions also includes Chronic Motor or Vocal Tic Disorders (CMVTD) which share many features of and may be misdiagnosed as TS.

What is a verbal tic?

Vocal tics are sounds uttered unintentionally. Some combinations of motor and vocal tics are diagnosed as Tourette's syndrome; tics also can be caused by other conditions. Tics are often sudden and repetitive. While tics may appear to be intentional, they are not.

What is a symptom of coprolalia?

Coprolalia (/ˌkɒprəˈleɪliə/ KOP-rə-LAY-lee-ə) is involuntary swearing or the involuntary utterance of obscene words or socially inappropriate and derogatory remarks. The word comes from the Greek κόπρος (kópros), meaning "dung, feces", and λαλιά (laliā́) "speech", from λαλεῖν (laleîn) "to talk".

How to react when someone curses you?

15 Disarming Comebacks for When Someone Swears at You
  1. “Lowering myself to anger won't solve anything. ...
  2. “I'm here to offer peace, even if you're not ready to accept it yet.”
  3. “Hate is heavy. ...
  4. “Our words shape our world. ...
  5. “You're entitled to your emotions, but not to spreading negativity.”

What are rude words to say to someone?

% stupid. ” “ I wish you were never born. ” “ No one is ever going to love you, you're so *#@! % fat and ugly. ” “ You never get anything right. ” “ You're worthless. ” These are mean and degrading things to say to someone.

How do you say cuss words without saying cuss words?

Need a break?
  1. Balderdash!
  2. William Shatner!
  3. Corn Nuts!
  4. Dagnabbit!
  5. Son of a monkey!
  6. Barnacles!
  7. Holy cow!
  8. Poo on a stick!