{'fraction_non_alphanumeric': 0.04888268156424581, 'fraction_numerical': 0.0467877094972067, 'mean_word_length': 4.063604240282685, 'pattern_counts': {'":': 0, '<': 9, '<?xml version=': 0, '>': 0, 'https://': 0, 'lorem ipsum': 0, 'www.': 0, 'xml': 0}, 'pii_count': 0, 'substrings_counts': 0, 'word_list_counts': {'cursed_substrings.json': 0, 'profanity_word_list.json': 0, 'sexual_word_list.json': 0, 'zh_pornsignals.json': 0}}
Tic symptoms in Tourette's syndrome reached their worst level of severity in middle childhood and then declined

Main outcome measure Current and worst ever tic severity were assessed using the Yale Global Tic Severity Scale (YGTSS) (range 0 to 50 points) in an interview with the patient and parents. Main results The mean age of tic onset was 5.8 years, and the mean age at which symptoms were at their worst was 10 years (range 6 to 15 y). The mean worst ever tic severity score on the YGTSS was 29.8. During the period of worst ever tic severity, 22% of patients had severe tics (YGTSS scores 40 to < 50), 28% had marked tic severity (YGTSS scores 30 to < 40), 39% had moderate tic severity (YGTSS scores 20 to < 30), and 4% had mild tic severity (YGTSS scores < 20). Greater severity of tic symptoms during the worst ever period was associated with increasing age at the time of worst ever symptoms (r = 0.58, p < 0.001). By 18 years of age, 47% of patients had no tics, 11% had minimal tic symptoms (YGTSS score < 10), 28% had mild symptoms (YGTSS score 10 to < 20), and 11% had moderate or marked tic severity (YGTSS scores 20 to < 40). Tic severity at baseline was not associated with worst ever or current tic severity. Tic severity at follow up was associated with tic severity during the worst ever period (r = 0.37, p < 0.03). The onset of puberty was not associated with the timing or degree of worst ever tic severity.