TOURETTE SYNDROME
Definition
Tourette syndrome (TS) is a nervous system disorder that causes unwanted and uncontrollable movements or sounds. Tourette syndrome includes tics which are involuntary and repetitive. There are three categories of tics including motor, vocal/phonic or both. In order for a child to be diagnosed with Tourette syndrome they must “have had at least two motor tics and at least one vocal/ phonic tic in some combination over the course of more than a year” (Tourette.org). Tics can have different levels of severity, and usually change in type and severity throughout the childhood years. It is said that 1 in 160 children between the ages of 5-17 have TS in the United States, and after the US 2010 census it is estimated that 300,000 children have been diagnosed with TS. TS is usually diagnosed in the early childhood years. From the ages of 5-7 is usually when the first tic is noticed, and it usually a motor tic in the neck or head. From the ages of 8-12 the tics become more frequent and severe (Tourette.org). TS usually becomes less frequent and severe into adolescence and adulthood, with some people becoming even tic free. The cause of TS is currently unknown, but it has been found that most cases of TS are hereditary.
Instructional Strategies
There are many things for teachers to keep in mind when they have a student with TS. One of the biggest factors is that stress can increase symptoms of TS. Teachers should try to keep the stress level for these students as minimal as possible, and if stressful situations do come up the teacher should help the student to minimize the stress. Teachers can also pay attention to what causes an increase in symptoms and work with the student to come up with supports to help with these situations. The tics that can be symptoms of TS can affect a student’s writing ability, if a teacher notices that the tics are affecting the students writing they can give the students accommodations to help with writing. Some of these accommodations can include a computer, tablet or scribe. Another way for teachers to help students with TS is by ignoring the symptoms as much as possible. If the teacher does not draw attention to the student’s symptoms, this normalizes TS, and it can also reduce bullying and create more acceptance from peers.
Useful Websites
These are some great sources of information. They have many tips for teachers who may have a student with TS in their classroom, and also lots of useful information on the condition.
https://www.tourette.org/about-tourette/overview/what-is-tourette/
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/tourette-syndrome/symptoms-causes/syc-20350465
https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/tourette/educators.html
https://www.tourettes-action.org.uk/62-advice-for-teachers.html
Research
This is a study that was done by scientists from Rutgers University. These scientists were able to create brain cells from blood cells from people who had at least a three-generation family with Tourette Syndrome. They were able to find that one of the likely causes of TS is a genetic mutation of the PNKD gene. This research is just the beginning and scientist think that the PNKD gene is one of many genes that may have a mutation leading to TS.
This study is testing the use of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation to understand where in the brain the tics are coming from. The use of brain simulation is being used to study how the tics occur, and ways to reduce or eliminate them in children with TS. The brain simulation is also being used to assess the severity of tics.
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/12/131211104127.htm
Researchers from Yale have discovered there may be a link between TS and histamine levels in the brain. They believe that it could be a genetic mutation that disrupts the production of histamine that can lead to TS. Researchers hope that this information can lead to new treatments for TS.
https://news.yale.edu/2014/01/08/yale-researchers-find-rare-genetic-cause-tourette-syndrome
Other
There are a number of other conditions that usually, but not always, accompany Tourette Syndrome. Some of these conditions include: ADHD, OCD/OCB, Learning Disorders, Behavior Issues, Anxiety, Mood Disorders, and Social Skill Deficits. It is very common for these conditions to occur with TS, and it is important for teachers to be aware of this when working with children with TS. (Tourette.org)
