Understanding Tourette's Disorder and Educating Others
If your child has
Tourette's disorder:
- Learn about Tourette's disorder. Learning about
Tourette's disorder will help your child and will help others understand your
child. People who do not know about
tics may think that a child who has Tourette's
disorder is seeking attention or misbehaving or has a cold or allergy.
Educating others will help them interact with your child in a positive
way.
- Learn ways to cope with Tourette's disorder. People
who have Tourette's disorder cannot control their tics. Although tics can
appear to be "on purpose" and can cause you frustration, do not punish your
child for having tics, and try not to show any frustration you may feel. Doing
so may increase your child's anxiety and cause more tics.
- Include other children. Parents often believe that
not talking about Tourette's disorder protects both the child with Tourette's
disorder and other children in the family. But talking with your family
about Tourette's disorder tells your child that he or she is part of a family
that cares, reinforces the idea that people who have Tourette's disorder can
lead normal lives, and reduces the possibility that other children will have
fears and concerns of their own. It is important to stress that Tourette's
disorder is not contagious and that tics generally decrease as the child grows
older. Remember that children will take their cues from adults on how to react
to a child who has Tourette's disorder.
- Learn about your child's educational rights. Most
children who have Tourette's disorder can be included in regular classrooms.
Laws provide for free early intervention services and for equal access to
public education for children with Tourette's disorder. Talk with your school
officials about what is best for your child.
- Seek counseling. Parents of a child who has
Tourette's disorder may feel overwhelmed by the amount of care their child
needs or feel guilty because they think that they may have caused the tics by
passing on a defective gene. Keep in mind that you may be having a harder time
dealing with the tics than your child is. Talk with a health professional about
any problems and concerns you have.
Credits
| By | Healthwise Staff |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | John Pope, MD - Pediatrics |
| Specialist Medical Reviewer | Karin M. Lindholm, DO - Neurology |
| Last Revised | July 26, 2011 |