TOURETTE SYNDROME

San Ramon Valley Unified School District 699 Old Orchard Drive Danville, CA 94526 925-552-5500 http://www.srvusd.net

Description

Tourette Syndrome (TS) is an inherited neurological disorder characterized by repetitive, stereotyped, involuntary movements and vocalizations called . TS symptoms generally appear before the age of 18. The first symptoms are usually facial tics, such as eye blinks. TS occurs in males three to four times more often than females. TS ranges from very mild to severe, most cases being in the mild category. It is estimated that 200,000 Americans have the most severe form of TS, and as many as one in 100 exhibit milder and less complex symptoms such as chronic motor or vocal tics. TS does not affect a person’s IQ. People with TS feel an irresistible urge to perform their tics, much like the need to sneeze or scratch a mosquito bite. Some people with TS are able to hold back their tics for up to hours at a time, but this only leads to a stronger outburst of tics once they are finally allowed to be expressed. Most people with TS experience their worst symptoms in early teens. Symptoms often decline in severity after puberty and may disappear in adulthood. Characteristics Multiple motor and vocal tics lasting for Simple vocal tics: more than one year • Throat-clearing • Sniffing Simple motor tics: sudden, brief, • Grunting sounds repetitive movements such as: • Shouting • Eye blinking • Barking • Facial grimacing Complex vocal tics: words, phrases or • Shoulder shrugging nonsensical sounds including • Head or shoulder jerking • (obscene or socially • More dramatic/disabling tics such inappropriate words) as punching oneself in the face • (repeating the words or phrases Complex motor tics: distinct, series of of others) movements that may or may not appear purposeful, such as The need to complete a in a certain way • Facial grimacing combined with a or a certain number of times in order to head twist and a shoulder shrug relieve the urge or decrease the sensation • Picking up an object, putting it to the nose, sniffing it, laying it down Often triggered or worsened by certain • Repeated touching objects, physical experiences, stress or fatigue hopping, jumping, bending, kicking or twisting

Fact Sheet 8/2007 Page 1 of 2

TOURETTE SYNDROME FACT SHEET

Classroom Implications

• May be able to suppress the • May touch other people excessively or expression of the tic for a period of repeat actions or behaviors obsessively time but then have outburst and unnecessarily • May have difficulty sustaining • May feel claustrophobic attention, impulsive, doesn’t seem • Tics may be partnered with other to be listening conditions such as, Attention Deficit • May be very disorganized and Hyperactivity Disorder; Obsessive- San Ramon Valley unable to get an assignment started Compulsive behaviors; learning Unified School or finished disabilities such as visual-motor

District • May utter strange and unacceptable integration problems and dysgraphia;

699 Old Orchard Drive sounds, words, or phrases anxiety disorders; or sleep disorders

Danville, CA 94526 Tips for Teachers

Phone: • Foster feelings of self-worth and self- • Alternate quiet and active times - alert 925-552-5500 esteem - give positive and immediate student with multiple reminders, feedback several minutes apart, before changing from one activity to another • Seat student in area free from We’re on the Web! distractions, allowing older student • Provide a quiet classroom during input as to seating arrangement intense learning times See us at: • Eliminate all unnecessary materials • Model acceptance and teach class www.SRVUSD.NET from student's desk and reduce visual tolerance and compassion - set distractions expectation for rest of class

• Use checklists/daily assignment • Provide additional time to complete a sheets to help student get organized task or break work into manageable pieces • Provide opportunities for movement Disclaimer: including an agreed-upon cue for • For severe disability, reduce the This information has been student to leave classroom to release amount of homework if necessary by as compiled by teachers in tics much as 50% the SRVUSD to promote understanding of and ability to work with Glossary students in an educational ADHD- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder setting. It is not designed Coprolalia - Involuntary utterances of obscene or inappropriate statements or words for medical purposes, OCD- Obsessive-Compulsive behaviors clinical diagnosis, or Premonitory Urge- Some tics are preceded by an urge or sensation in the affected determining special muscle group. education eligibility. All students are different. Tics - Involuntary, rapid, sudden movements or vocalizations that occur This information is not repeatedly in the same way. intended to be complete TS- Tourette Syndrome or necessarily applicable to every student identified Resources with this condition. Tourette Syndrome in the Classroom - http://tsact.org/images- Additional information, downloads/TS%20in%20the%20Classroom.pdf strategies or theories may TSA of Greater Washington - http://www.tsagw.org/educate/modifications.html#2 exist, and may conflict MedlinePlus - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tourettesyndrome.html with information herein. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/tourette/detail_tourette.htm#85183231 Tourette Syndrome “Plus” http://www.tourettesyndrome.net Page 2 of 2