Twenty-one-year-old James Durbin of Santa Cruz, California can change the world's view of Tourette Syndrome (TS) and Asperger Syndrome (AS), two disorders he has, through his appearances on American Idol. The contestant this season many are hoping will make it through to the end, Durbin, has a good chance. He can wail like former runner-up Adam Lambert, but he also has an interesting backstory--he's an Alphabet Kid who has, among other disorders, TS and AS, two very misunderstood afflictions.

He has already, only a few rounds in and not yet into the final group, shown that the stereotypical Tourette sufferer and Asperger adult are not in play here. And that is the most important aspect of understanding these Alphabet Disorders--many who have them do not follow the symptom rules.

You mention Tourette's to most people, and they think it's something comical, not realizing the agony that is really associated with the uncontrollable physical and vocal tics that are part of the disorder. Most people picture someone with uncontrollable cursing (coprolalia) and it is often used for comic effect. The most recent example was on the Showtime series Shameless, which living up to its name, should know better than to fall back on this old, tired, misleading running gag. Only between 5 and 15% of those affected with Tourette's suffers coprolalia. Durbin does not curse, or at least, has not yet on TV (and trust me, if American Idol had the opportunity, they would have exploited it). What Durbin does seem to have are some facial tics, mostly blinking.