Tourette Syndrome

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Tourette Syndrome

• Lenora Overstreet
• Radford University
• Dr. Tylers class

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Definition

• It is an incapacitating neurological condition
  that causes uncontrolled vocal and motor
  twitches/spasms.
• Believed to be from a brain dysfunction.
• Echolalia repeating/resonating verbal
  statements
• Coprolalia involuntary swearing/profanity

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Symptoms

• One cant control the tics (motor or verbal)
• Examples Grinding teeth barking
• clenched hands hissing
• hitting
  self clicking
• Usually begins when one is 3-10 yrs old.
• Check with a physician if a tic develops because
  not all develop TS.
• Most take medicine if tics become bothersome.

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• Not specific to any societal group.
• Males are 3 to 4 times more apt to be affected
• The tics come and go over time, and they
  fluctuate in occurrence, location, and severity.
• Usually peak severity of the tics is before the
  mid-teenage years.
• About 10 of those affected have the progressive
  type that goes into adulthood.
• Many with TS have ADHD, learning disabilities, or
  even obsessive-compulsive disorders.

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Is there a cure?

• Doctors use MRI, CT (computerized tomography),
  EEG scans, and blood tests to exclude other
  confusing conditions (like cerebral palsy,
  Huntingtons disease, Wilsons disease, or even
  streptococcal infections)
• No cure, but medication can be taken to lessen
  the occurrence/strength of the tics.
• 50/50 chance if you have TS that your child will,
  too.

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• Can expect to live an average life span not
  degenerative and doesnt lessen ones intellect!
• Over time, the tics should lessen but other
  neuropsychiatric disorders (depression, panic
  attacks, or antisocial behaviors) may increase.

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What can teachers do to help alleviate the
social/educational challenges?

• Students with TS have the same intellectual range
  as normal students.
• The tics or other symptoms can affect their
  educational performance.
• Make sure they are in the less restrictive
  environment.
• More than likely, students with TS will have
  visual/motor incorporation hurdles trouble
  seeing it, processing it, and recording it!

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• Students may need untimed tests, smaller classes,
  computer/tape recorder for writing or reading
  assignments
• Above all, students need a tolerant teacher and
  students who are aware of the situation and
  clear rules of what will be tolerated in the
  classroom.

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• Works Cited
• Bagheri, M., Kerbeshian, J., Burd, L. (1999).
  Recognition and Management of Tourettes
  Syndrome and Tic Disorders. American Family
  Physician. http//www.aafp.ord/afp/990415ap/22
  63.html.
• Hawley, J. Gray, S., MD. (2008). Tourette
  Syndrome. Retrieved on 2/24/09 from
  http//emedicine.medscpae.com/article/289457-over
  view.
• National Institute of Neurological Disorders and
  Stroke. (2000). Tourette Syndrome Facts.
  Retrieved on 2/10/09 from http//www.ninds.nih.go
  v/tourette/detail_tourette.htm.
• No Author. (5/9/2008). Tourette Syndrome.
  Retrieved on 2/28/09 from http//www.medicinenet.
  com/script/main/art.
• Packer, L., PhD. (2002). Tips on Dealing with
  Medication Side Effects. Retrieved on 3/1/09
  from http//www.schoolbehavior.com.
• Packer, L., PhD. (2009). Treatment of Tics
  and Tourettes Syndrome. Retrieved on 3/5/09
  from www.tourettesyndrome.net/tourette_treatment.h
  tm.
• Swierzewski, S., MD. (2001).
  Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
  Causes and Risk Factors. Retreived on 2/13/09
  from www.nuerologychannel.com.
• Tourette Syndrome Foundation of Canada. (2009).
  What is TS? Retrieved on 2/13/09 from
  http//www.tourette.ca/whatists.php.

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Video to watch

• http//videos.howstuffworks.com/howstuffworks/hows
  tuffworks/389-how-tourette-syndrome-works-video.ht
  m
• http//www.metacafe.com/w/157860/