Tourette's Syndrome

Tourette's

Syndrome

Definition

A tic disorder characterized by the presence of chronic vocal and motor tics, probably based on differences in or damage to the basal ganglia of the brain.

Causes

The causes of Tourette's Syndrome is, at this time, unknown. However, research points to abnormalities in certain regions of the brain, the circuits connecting these regions, and the neurotransmitters corresponding to these areas.

Prevelance

Estimates by the National Institutes of Health estimate that 1 out of every 100,000 people have Tourette's Syndrome.

Assessment and Diagnosis

There are no standard

tests to determine if someone

has Tourette's Syndrome.

Yet, doctors use the criteria that:

• motor and vocal tics are present before the age of 18
• tics occur more than once a day
• those tics must continue for at least a year.

Characteristics

Obviously, motor and vocal tics are tell-tale signs of the disorder. These tics are either simple (i.e. eye blinking, shrugging, and shoulder jerking) or complex (i.e. multiple muscle contractions and combinatory movements).

So, What Is It Really Like to Have Tourette's?

Overview: We will write the Pledge of Allegiance to simulate what it is like to have Tourette's.

1. Pull out a sheet of paper and pencil.

2. Begin writing the Pledge of Allegiance.

3. Instead of rushing through the process, erase and rewrite every third (3rd) word. This will simulate a motor tic as well as Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.

4. To compound this, everytime you hear phone ringing, tap once on your desk. This also provides an insight into the stimuli of a person with Tourette's.

1. Break assignments down into a shorter number of tasks.

2. Make sure to highlight the main concepts of a particular subject.

3. Seat students in a format free of distractions.

4. Allow students with motor tics plenty of space to work.

5. For students who have Tourette's and are claustrophobic, create a 'roomy', and comfortable classroom atmosphere.

6.Provide a quiet place for a student with TS to go when his or her tics are severe.

7. Arrange for students to go to a predetermined "safe" place when they are feeling particurlarly stressed out.

8. Be aware of when a student's mood may change due to adjusting medication.

9. All in all, make sure to modify your expectations based on your student's needs.

Instructional Tips

Assistive Technology

1. Dragon NaturallySpeaking

speech-to-text software. Developed by Nuance Communications for Window's PCs, this software allows students with motor tics to speak into a microphone and dictate commands or "write" a document.

2. NaturalReader software

Developed by NaturalSoft to provide students with Tourette's who may have visual tics to listen to a text instead of struggling to read it.

Miscellaneous Facts about Tourette's

1. Tourette's Syndrome is an inherited, dominant gene. Thus, there is about a 50% chance of passing it down from parent to child.

2. Sons are 3 times more likely to inherit TS than daughters.

3. Medication that directly cures TS does not exist. However, medication is used to treat the symptoms of TS like obsessive compulsive tendencies.

4. As people with TS grow older, the symptoms usually remit.

5. Even though the vocal tics from students with Tourette's may be vulgar, they, in no way, reflect the actual feelings of the person speaking them.

Resources

1. http://www.tsa-usa.org/

This is the main website for all items regarding Tourette's. It has many tips and definitions. The majority of our presentation was based around this one website.

2. Busy Body: My Life with Tourette's Syndrome

The enlightening story of a man who embraced Tourette's to meet his goal of becoming a great pianist. Nick van Bloss recounts life, success, and sickness through the eyes of a person with Tourette's Syndrome,

3. Tourette's Syndrome: Tics, Obsessions, Compulsions: Developmental Psychopathology and Clinical Care

This book was written for a comprehensive look at Tourette's. Reccommended for those who need an in-depth look at the disability, this book is one of the most informative on the market.

Teaching Tips