Know Tourette Syndrome
What is Guilles de la Tourette Syndrome and how can we help children with it?
Gilles de la Tourette syndrome is a nervous system condition, which basically causes affected people to have ” tics “.
These tics, which can be sudden spasms, movements, or sounds that people make repeatedly and cannot be voluntarily controlled – it’s like hiccups. You can try to restrain it for a few minutes, but it is complicated and the tic ends up “winning”. Between 0.4% and 3.8% of children ages 5 to 18 can have Tourette syndrome , and it is more common in men than women. The most common tics are eye blinking, coughing, clearing, sniffing, and facial movements.
It is important to know that many children with Tourette syndrome also have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder . They may also have learning disabilities or obsessive-compulsive disorder (thoughts or behaviors that are repeated over and over again). This combination of syndromes and symptoms eventually causes the child to feel anxious, guilty, helpless, and moody. It is a stressful situation for both the family and the child himself, so, by not being able to change the situation, he begins to develop depression .
Tourette syndrome is incurable , but medicine and treatment can help your child. Symptoms can be mild, a little severe, or very severe, and the frequency of the tics can change from one moment to the next and from one day to the next. It is also true that some symptoms change or subside as the child grows, in fact a severe Tourette in adulthood is a rarity. The problem is that, without the necessary care and treatment, Tourette syndrome leads to more serious emotional problems.
It is true that in popular culture, we have Tourette syndrome associated with cursing, making sexual or offensive comments (coprolalia). However, only a small percentage of people with Tourette syndrome have this symptom.
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TOURETTE SYNDROME AT SCHOOL
As we have mentioned, Tourette syndrome can affect the child’s learning and socialization process , since, for example, some tics can make reading or writing difficult. The child may also be distracted by trying to avoid tics. In addition, as it is a difficult disorder for other children to understand, they are often the target of teasing, humiliation and bullying . However, with the support and care of teachers, children with Tourettes can adapt and socialize like any other, leading to a positive and successful school experience. Keep in mind that learning disorder symptoms include reading, writing, numeracy, and perceptual problems. They also often have sleep disturbances, which include waking up frequently or talking in sleep.
In general, children with syntrome have the same level of intelligence as others, but special educational assistance is recommended. This assistance can range from shifting the child’s place in the class to the front row so that they are less distracted, to allowing extra time to complete tests or use computers for children who have writing problems.
To help the child accept and understand his syndrome when he is diagnosed, it is important to maintain the customs and school routine . Guidelines and habits should be followed to prevent or improve attention and concentration difficulties (use different notebooks for each subject, filing cabinets, make a list of the tasks to be carried out …). To encourage their responsibility, it is advisable to entrust the child with different activities that involve a motor activity or the possibility of leaving the classroom (erasing the blackboard, messages to other teachers …). Lastly, their appropriate behaviors and behaviors must be reinforced and encouraged. Like all children, they need to be praised and recognized for their efforts, creativity, spontaneity and impulse control. When it comes to punishing the child or scolding him, it is very important to explain the reason for it and the behavior that he should have adopted. It is essential that you never feel incapable or less than your peers because of your disorder.
TOURETTE SYNDROME TREATMENT
As a treatment for the disorder and its symptoms, physical exercise is absolutely important to eliminate stress and develop psychomotor skills . Integrating the child in team games is essential, because otherwise it will increase their nervousness and tics. Participation in activities in which you do not have problems due to the side effects of the medications in your treatment or the symptoms of the disorder should be encouraged. In activities where a potential danger is perceived, you should only be advised of the importance of taking precaution, as well as someone adult staying closer and attentive in case you require any help or support.
Awareness-raising around this syndrome, which remains unknown and isolated, is very important. Lack of knowledge on the part of the families, environment and the affected person himself, leads to situations of frustration and stress that worsen the symptoms in all cases.
Dr. Tabriella Perivolaris, Sara's mother and fan of fashion, beauty, motherhood, among others, about the female universe. Since 2018 she has been working as a copywriter, always bringing to her articles a little of her experience and experience as a mother and woman.