Tourettes Syndrome
Dear Doctor,
We have a child, a son, who is eight years old. His doctor has said he thinks he has Tourette’s disorder because he has facial twitches and movements. We have heard some horrible things about this disorder and are frankly frightened to death.
Can you describe what we are facing
Dear Frightened
Sufficient unto the day is the trouble thereof, or so we were taught. Your worry about the future is not going to help you deal more effectively with your young son.
Let’s begin by understanding what Tourettes is. Gilles de la Tourette first described the disorder, and the syndrome bears his name. Sometimes it is actually called GTS.
Its onset is in childhood, before age 18. It is neurologically based, probably inherited, and consists of motor and vocal tics, episodic or chronic, usually together. Other possible physiological geneses for the disorder must be ruled out, including possible results of disease or a substance. What is frightening to you is the description of vocal tics which might include socially unacceptable language.
I have known many Tourettes young people at various ages and stages of the disorder. Very few have ever suffered from the socially embarrassing complication. Sometimes the involuntary movements may also be extreme, but this is also rare. Most youngsters are controlled with either behavior therapy, medication, or both. If this were my son, I would go to a teaching hospital and ask for the docs who might be researching Tourettes.
I would also ask for a behavior therapy program. In the meantime connect with information try this site on the Internet: www.tourettes-disorder.com. There is much information for you there. Also contact your pediatrician for referral to a support group.
That will help you enormously. It is, after all, your son’s problem; and he will need a therapist or ongoing counseling to help you find the services you might require.
Tags: gts, tourette's disorder, tourettes, tourettes syndrome
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