speaking of impediments and such - why/how does tourettes syndrome happen /how can it be cured?

Question

it must be terrible for those who have it, but is it genetic or a typeof mental illness what? my step-son has a mild form, and I would like to understand they why's and how's of it so I could be more tollerant

Answer 1

As you can see by the other misinformed (and rude) answers posted here, there is much misconception about this.

Touretts is lifelong and there is not a cure. It is not degenerative. It is migratory. It does not impede intelligence or ability to learn. Your step son is not retarded.

People with TS deserve the same love and respect as everyone else. My son has Tourettes, ADHD and OCD. He is treated like all members of our household. He has chores and homework, just like everybody else.

Tourettes is a neurological (or neurobiological, to be more specific) condition. Insist upon having him seen by a Pediatric Neurologist with an interest in Tourettes. They will know the latest developments (and if they don't, YOU will need to inform them).

And above all, don't worry. Educate yourself as much as possible. YOU are your child's best advocate.

In public, people are watching you. I have found that if people see me treating him just like everybody else, in most cases they will follow suit. We pretty much ignore the tics and vocal tremors, and you should too. A stress free environment, where the child can "tic away" at home without comment is best. Stress increases the tics.

I would not trade my son for the world. He is sweet, artistically gifted, smart with a high IQ, plays chess, loves to create with Lego's, has friends, and is just a great kid! Having Tourettes is not the worst thing in the world, BELIEVE ME! Spend any amount of time in a Pediatric Neurology waiting room and you will count your blessings. It is good that your sons case is mild.

There are medications that can help, ask your Neurologist. My son is on Clonidine. This helps a LOT.

Here is a great book "Front of the Class, How Tourettes made me the Teacher I never had", by Brad Cohen

Here is a GREAT DVD: "I have Tourettes, but Tourettes, doesn't Have Me" by HBO and available here: http://www.tsa-usa.org

This web site is a fantastic resource.

Blessings to you. Please feel free to communicate with me through this site.

Answer 2

even as i became little, my mom idea I had Tourette Syndrome, yet even as i became 11, she took me to the clinical professional and they placed me by potential of a few relaxing exams (shutting one eye even as status on one foot, an EEG, blood attempt, that variety of stuff to rule out different stuff). They placed me on meds and by no potential something replaced, so even as i became in intense college, I went to a baby psychologist who also placed me on meds, this time, antidepressants. in some unspecified time sooner or later, that they had discovered all my stupid little tics and noises and stuff weren't Tourettes, they were easily obsessive-compulsive ailment. even as i became 18, i wanting to slowly bypass off my meds simply by the indisputable fact that they had by no potential executed a element for me. i became nevertheless counting stairs, clearing my throat, making grunting noises, choosing at my fingers, etc. The record is going on, trust me. in some unspecified time sooner or later later on, my OCD began to chop back, i do not understand why. i'm now 25 and characteristic purely about stopped thoroughly, without theory what befell. I nevertheless do slightly issues, yet maximum are unnoticable. i do not study about treatments, on the grounds that no longer something yet time looked as if it would help me. i became once informed by employing an extremely loving, sensible individual who this stuff are a deeply-seated want for administration, and that studying to relenquish administration can help your thoughts allow bypass of that's useless movements. i'm hoping that facilitates. If it would not, i have chanced on that's achievable to slowly move your tics to a lot less glaring ones. often times you have not any determination, although.

Answer 3

its genetic, it cant be cured. i think its caused by an extra bit on one of the chromosomes but i could have just misunderstood that.

PLEASE dont ask ur step son to hold in his tic because while it is possible (for some) it makes the tics worse whn he eventualy lets them out and im told holding them in is VERY unplesant.

Answer 4

The exact cause of TS is not known, but both genetic and environmental factors are involved.


from

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tourettes

which can give you more detailed info.

Answer 5

is it nerves passing through your brain when they remember words try get stung by a wasp