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Navi is the fairy companion to Link in "The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time." She aids Link on his journey throughout the game by offering tips, highlighting danger, and even pointing out secret areas. Though most of her dialogue is transmitted through text, she is the only character in the game with an audible voice. She usually says "Hey!" and "Listen!" in order to get Link (and the player) to pay attention to something she deems important. Though most people considered her very helpful, due to her incessant statements she has been repeatedly deemed one of the most annoying characters in video game history.
It should be noted that I have not visited with Navi in person. However, after examining available data my diagnosis can be made with a reasonable degree of confidence.
My initial diagnostic impressions include:
TOURETTE'S DISORDER
The essential features of Tourette's Disorder are multiple motor tics and one or more vocal tics.
Diagnostic Criteria:
A: Both multiple motor and one or more vocal tics have been present at some time during the illness, although not necessarily concurrently. (A tic is a sudden, rapid, recurrent, nonrhythmic, stereotyped motor movement or vocalization.)
B: The tics occur many times a day (usually in bouts) nearly every day or intermittently throughout a period of more than 1 year, and during this period there was never a tic-free period of more than 3 consecutive months.
C: The onset is before age 18 years.
D: The disturbance is not due to the direct physiological effects of a substance or a general medical condition.
Analysis of Criteria
Contrary to popular belief, Tourette's Disorder does not imply that a person uncontrollably shouts obscenities. This is known as Coprolalia, and is a specific type of vocal tic. It occurs in less than 10% of people with Tourette's Disorder and is not required for this diagnosis.
Navi only says a couple of words audibly - most notably "hey" and "listen." She appears to be capable of other speech, but says these two particular words quite frequently, loudly, and suddenly. What's more, she says them in exactly the same tone and pitch each time, which seems more stereotyped than functional. It appears these vocalizations are tics (criteria A). However, she does not express any motor tics (movement related), and thus does not meet criteria A. Another less severe tic disorder may be more appropriate.
CHRONIC MOTOR OR VOCAL TIC DISORDER
The essential feature of Chronic Motor or Vocal Tic Disorder is the presence of either motor tics or vocal tics, but not both.
Diagnostic Criteria:
A: Single or multiple motor or vocal tics (i.e., sudden, rapid, recurrent, nonrhythmic, stereotyped motor movements or vocalizations), but not both, have been present at some time during the illness.
B: The tics occur many times a day nearly every day or intermittently throughout a period of more than 1 year, and during this period there was never a tic-free period more than 3 consecutive months.
C: The onset is before age 18 years.
D: The disturbance is not due to the direct physiological effects of a substance or a general medical condition.
E: Criteria have never been met for Tourette's Disorder.
Analysis of Criteria
It has previously been established that Navi has vocal tics and not motor tics (criteria A). The tics occur many times throughout the day, every day. However, it is unclear how long these tics have been occurring. In The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, over seven years pass away and Link goes from being a child to an adult. He does this by traveling through time in a special temple. Navi journeys with him. However, it becomes clear that Link did not experience the seven year interim and it can be conjectured that Navi did not either. Thus, it appears she has been exhibiting her vocal tic for less than one year (criteria B). Still yet another less severe tic disorder may be the most appropriate diagnosis.
TRANSIENT TIC DISORDER
The essential feature of Transient Tic Disorder is the presence of single or multiple motor tics and/or vocal tics.
Diagnostic Criteria:
A: Single or multiple motor and/or vocal tics (i.e., sudden, rapid, recurrent, nonrhythmic, stereotyped motor movements or vocalizations).
B: The tics occur many times a day, nearly every day for at least 4 weeks, but for no longer than 12 consecutive months.
C: The onset is before age 18 years.
D: The disturbance is not due to the direct physiological effects of a substance or a general medical condition.
E: Criteria have never been met for Tourette's Disorder or Chronic Motor or Vocal Tic Disorder.
Analysis of Criteria
Navi has vocal tics (criteria A) that have probably been occurring for at least four weeks and less than a year (criteria B). Criteria C cannot be assessed because Navi's age is unknown. The tics do not appear to be due to the effects of a substance (criteria D). It is possible that saying "Hey!" and "Listen!" loudly, abruptly, and repeatedly is part of the life of a fairy, but other fairies in the game do not appear to have this issue. Thus, Navi's tics do not appear to be do to a medical condition of any kind (criteria D). As outlined previously, criteria have never been met for another tic disorder (criteria E).
Final Diagnosis:
Axis I: 307.21 Transient Tic Disorder
Axis II: V71.09 No Diagnosis on Axis II
Axis III: Deferred to medical/magical personnel
Axis IV: Housing problems (homeless fairy), unemployment (after quest was completed)
Axis V: GAF=90