Yahoo Lifestyle As Lewis Capaldi fans step in to sing lyrics after he has Tourette's tics on stage – signs and symptoms of condition
Lewis Capaldi fans recently stepped in for the singer when he experienced Tourette's symptoms on stage.
The star, 26, was performing in Frankfurt in Germany on Tuesday when the audience finished the lyrics to his song Someone You Loved for him in support.
A TikTok has since gone viral of the moment, where Capaldi can be seen having a flare-up of tics, before he throws out guitar picks to the crowd as they continued singing in a team effort.
Read more: Scarlett Moffatt opens up about developing sudden onset tics in Tourette's documentary
Many acknowledged the touching moment in the comments, and some felt compelled to share their own experiences.
One TikTok user wrote, "he has the best fanbase who will forever support him at any chances. his Tourette's doesn't identify who he is as artist. Lewis is amazing"
"Never knew he suffered with Tourette's. But he has the voice of an angel. Makes me appreciate him even more then ever," added a fan.
Meanwhile, others commented, "This makes my heart happy I have Tourette’s and it can be the scariest thing walking around knowing people notice. Lewis, thank you for inspiring me" and "i feel so comforted knowing i could still be a singer like this someday regardless of my Tourette's".
Capaldi has previously opened about his condition, most recently addressing it last month at a concert in Belfast in Northern Ireland.
"You might see me twitching a little bit up here. Nothing to be worried about – I have Tourette’s," he said on stage.
“I’m absolutely fine, everything’s good, I just twitch a little bit," he continued, before adding, "I'm good, baby."
Watch: 'I'm good, baby': Singer Lewis Capaldi Talks about Tourette's diagnosis
Capaldi isn't the only famous singer to have the condition. Billie Eilish has also previously opened up about being diagnosed with Tourette's syndrome from a young age.
The Grammy Award-winning singer, 21, was prompted to discuss her condition when she experienced a tic on camera, brought on by the lights, during an interview on My Next Guest Needs No Introduction with David Letterman for Netflix in May.
"If you film me for long enough, you're going to see lots of tics," she said. "I don't care. It's really weird, I haven't talked about it all.
"The most common way people react is they laugh, [think] that I'm trying to be funny...and I'm always left incredibly offended by that."
Commenting on how it can often go unnoticed, or misunderstood, she said, "What's funny is so many people have it that you would never know," adding that she knew of other artists who did, but that she wasn't going to "out them".
When Letterman expressed he hoped the interview hadn't exacerbated her condition, Eilish replied, "Not at all.
"I actually really love answering questions about it, because it's very very interesting. And I am incredibly confused by it. I don't get it."
Read more: 'My son has Tourette’s syndrome': Heartache caused by a missed diagnosis
Eilish was diagnosed with Tourette's at 11 years old, having experienced "small" tics when she was a child.
The types of tics she described experiencing include ear wiggling, raising her eyebrow, clicking her jaw and flexing her arm.
"These are things you would never notice if you're just having a conversation with me, but for me, they're very exhausting," she explained.
"It's not like I like it, but I feel it's part of me. I have made friends with it. And so now, I'm pretty confident in it."
However, when asked whether it happens when she performs, she replied, "No. When I'm moving around, I'm not ticcing at all.
"When I'm riding my horse I'm not ticcing, when I'm moving, when I'm thinking and focusing, when I'm singing."
So what exactly is the condition Capaldi and Eilish live with, and what are the signs and symptoms?
What is Tourette's syndrome?
Tourette's syndrome is a condition that causes a person to make involuntary sounds and movements called tics, according to the NHS.
While it usually starts during childhood, tics and other symptoms usually improve over the years, sometimes going away entirely. There is no cure for the condition, but treatment – which can include behavioural therapy and medicine – can help manage symptoms.
Signs and symptoms of Tourette's syndrome
Symptoms can be both physical and vocal, and can be worse on some days than others, particularly during periods of stress, anxiety or tiredness.
Example of physical tics, as listed by the NHS, include:
blinking
eye rolling
grimacing
shoulder shrugging
jerking of the head or limbs
jumping
twirling
touching objects and other people
Examples of vocal tics include:
grunting
throat clearing
whistling
coughing
tongue clicking
animal sounds
saying random words and phrases
repeating a sound, word or phrase
swearing (this is rare and only affects about 1 in 10)
Tics are not usually harmful to overall health, but can be painful, or tiring.
Read more: What is bowel cancer? Signs and and symptoms to be aware of
Watch: Billie Eilish has said that living with Tourette's syndrome is 'very exhausting'
When to seek medical advice
The NHS advises that you should contact your GP if you or your child starts having tics. As many children have tics for several months before growing out of them, it's important to remember their symptoms may not necessarily mean they have Tourette's syndrome.
While there's no single test for the condition, tests and scans can rule out other health problems. A diagnosis can be given to those who have had several tics for at least a year, which can help individuals be better understand, and ensure they get access to the right kind of treatment and support.
You can also find support from charity Tourette's action.
