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In a candid revelation, Landon Barker, the son of famous drummer Travis Barker and model
Shanna Moakler, has shed light on his long-standing battle with Tourette Syndrome (TS).
The 20-year-old musician shared his experience in a now-deleted TikTok video, saying, “I’ve
had it for as long as I can remember, like pre-school.”
TS is a neurological disorder characterized by repetitive, involuntary movements or
vocalizations known as tics. Landon recounted how his condition affected him even in his
early school days, with teachers misinterpreting his tics. “I remember exactly because the
teacher used to accuse me of rolling my eyes at her because one of my ticks was [moves
eyes around] that. It was, like, a weird thing I do with my eyes,” he explained.
While Landon isn’t the only celebrity to open up about living with Tourette Syndrome, with
stars like Billie Eilish and Lewis Capaldi also sharing their experiences, his candor sheds
valuable light on the daily struggles faced by those with the condition.
According to the Tourette’s Action Organization, symptoms of TS can include eye blinking,
grimacing, shoulder shrugging, limb and head jerking, abdominal tensing, jumping, twirling,
and touching objects or people. Vocal tics may involve whistling, throat clearing, sniffing,
coughing, tongue clicking, grunting, animal sounds, uttering words or phrases out of context,
and even saying socially unacceptable words (coprolalia).
For Landon, the condition seems to worsen in nerve-racking situations. “It really just acts up
in nervous situations or nerve-racking environments for me,” he shared.
Managing Tourette Syndrome can involve a combination of approaches, including behavioral
therapies, telemedicine, medication, and, in some cases, neurosurgery. As Landon and
others continue to raise awareness about this often-misunderstood condition, it is hoped that
greater understanding and support will pave the way for more effective management and
acceptance.