Tourettes Syndrome

What is it like to have Tourettes?Taken from That Darn Tic, a childrens newsletter.

CharacteristicsPeople with Tourettes make involuntary movements or noises. These are called tics.Simple Tics: sudden, brief, repetitive movements that involve a limited number of muscle groupsComplex Tics: distinct, coordinated patterns of movements involving several muscle groupsVocal Tics: noises that a person makes with their voiceMotor Tics: tics involving movement of the bodySimple TicsComplex TicsVocal TicsThroat-clearing, SniffingGrunting SnortingBarkingHiccuppingYellingUsing different tones of voiceRepeating ones own words Repeating others wordsUsing swear wordsMotor TicsBlinking Facial MovementsShrugging the shouldersArm jerkingHead jerkingShoulder jerkingSticking the tongue outFinger flexingTouching objectsHoppingJumpingBendingTwistingTouching the noseTouching other peopleObscene gesturingFlapping the armsSerious Tics:Coprolalia: uttering socially inappropriate words such as swearing Echolalia: repeating the words or phrases of othersSelf-harming tics: scratching oneself, punching oneself, hitting ones head on hard objects.

Things to keep in mindNo case is typical.Tics can change over time.Tics can worsen and get better over time.Often worst during adolescence.Certain things can worsen tics.Stress, anxiety, excitement, shirts with tight collars, hearing someone else cough or clear their throat.

Holding in TicsTics are often preceded by a premonitory urge.Trying not to tic:Can feel like holding your breathTrying not to hiccupTrying not to blinkBehavioral TherapyIt was a common opinion that any suppression of tics would produce more in the future, so professors recommended not to ever encourage suppressing tics.Now people have been working with cognitive behavior therapy and have seen some improvements. Tic-detector experimentCo-Occurring Conditions 79% diagnosed with at least one additional mental health, behavioral, or developmental condition64% ADHD43% Behavioral or conduct problems (ODD or CD)40% Anxiety problems36% DepressionOver 1/3 also have OCDCausesNo one knows.It is thought to be genetic.Genes may just increase susceptibility for the disorder.Monozygotic twins show a 50-70% concordance.Dizygotic twins show a 9% concordance.Some studied noted abnormal frontal lobe discharges. Prevalence3 of every 1,000 children 6 through 17 years of age and living in the United States.Other studies using different methods have estimated the rate of TS at 6 per 1,000 children.27% are reported as having moderate or severe forms of the condition. Tourettes affects all racial and ethnic groups.Males are affected 3 times more than females.More common in children.Tourettes often decreases or goes away with age.

How is Tourettes DiagnosedDiagnosis is fairly subjective.Patients must have a case history of at least 1 year.Facial tics are usually the first ones displayed.Patients explain and show doctors their tics, and the doctor diagnoses them with Tourettes.YESTERDAY

Famous People With Tourettes

1825 First Recorded Case

Jean Marc Gaspard Itard (1774 1838), perhaps most remembered for his work with the Wild Child of Aveyron, noted the characteristics of Marquise de Dampierre.Marquise de Dampierre26 years of ageNoble, intelligent young ladyIn the midst of a conversation that interests her extremely, all of a sudden, without being able to prevent it, she interrupts what she is saying or what she is listening to with bizarre shouts and with words that are even more extraordinary and which make a deplorable contrast with her intellect and distinguished manner.Georges Gilles de la Tourette

In 1885, Tourette published a detailed report of nine patients who exhibited a condition with the characteristics of twitching, jerking uncontrollably, crying out, grunting, or swearing involuntarily.Maladie des tics convulsifs avec coprolalieTourette argued in his report that it was distinct from other known diseases and disorders of the time.Cited first example as Marquise de Dampierre.Because a set of signs and symptoms, a course of illness, and a predisposing cause had been identified, Tourette argued that a disease had been described.This was challenged by Parisian colleagues.Early 20th CenturyThe psychoanalytic influence on Tourettes was that it was a psychiatric problem.Patients and families were often told that their own psychological maladjustments were to blame for their treatments.Tics were attributed to sexual impulses and/or conflict between parent and child, resulting in deficits of will and character.

New Research

In 1968, Arthur K. Shapiro and his wife, Elaine, treated a patient with haloperidol. Seeing the effects the medication had on the patient, the Shapiros argued that Tourettes was a neurological rather than a psychological disorder.TodayTic disorders are considered to be an inherited neuropsychiatric disorder. There are many places in which individuals with Tourettes can receive treatment and support.www.tsa-usa.orgMedical and scientific researchNewsletter for individuals of all agesEducational strategies and advocacyMany other featuresTourettes Syndrome in our Educational System

I Have a Chicken in My PantsAttitude and knowledge were everything!! And the chicken lived happily ever after.

Ignorance Leads to IssuesIgnorance causesStressFrustrationTask AvoidanceWhen the stress builds up within a student, the tics become much more prevalent and difficult to control.

DifficultiesAttention/ConcentrationImpulsive behaviorGeneral FidgetingRitualistic Behavior

Accommodations & AdaptationsSeat children with Tourettes in the front of the classroom to enhance attention.Time-out passes can help to relieve tension and tics.Eliminate unnecessary items from the students desk.Designate a specific item or two for the student to be able to fidget with.Have a private place that the student can go to calm down and release tics.Accommodations & AdaptationsA buddy system can help provide security and educational support.Distribute instructions rather than having the students write them down.Reduce the length of homework assignments, remembering that quality is more important that quantity.Allow the student to take tests in a private room and waive or give an extended time limit.The Best Way to Help

As a teacher, be patient and persevering. Provide the opportunity for the child to explain about Tourettes to his classmates.A Teacher Can Make the Difference

I Have Tourettes, but Tourettes Doesnt Have MeVimeo.com/58887624