- Thread starter TSson
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Hi welcome
David Baxter PhD
Late Founder
Welcome to Psychlinks. TSson.
Steve is our resident Tourette expert. He'll be off line for a few days later this week but he'll probably stop by to say hello before then.
In the meantime, there's quite a bit of information available here in our Tourette Syndrome forum at Tourette Syndrome
Feel free to ask questions and we'll do our best to provide some guidance.
Steve is our resident Tourette expert. He'll be off line for a few days later this week but he'll probably stop by to say hello before then.
In the meantime, there's quite a bit of information available here in our Tourette Syndrome forum at Tourette Syndrome
Feel free to ask questions and we'll do our best to provide some guidance.
Hello TSson, and welcome to Psychlinks! I am very glad you found us and I hope we can provide you with some insights, not only specifically related to Tourette but also in assisting you and your family find ways to enhance your son's ability to learn to deal with his disorder.
As David mentioned, I am preoccupied this particular week with a move, although I do take time to check into the Forum during spare moments, my time online is limited by the number of chores on my wife's To-Do List. Luckily I was given a heads up on your joining our Forum, so I've taken the opportunity to introduce myself.
By way of background, my diagnosis is Tourette, which did not impede my career of over twenty five years in a support role working with members of the medical commuity. am not a physician, nor a trained health professional, but I do have a keen interest in mental illness suppport with particular focus on Tourette.
If I may, I would like to ask you a few questions, that would provide us with some insights into your and your son's situation.
Do you have a definitive and competent diagnosis that confirms your son has Tourette? Is your son seeing a medical professional who specializes in Tourette and who has extensive clinical experience treating adolescents with Tourette?
Does your son take medication for his diagnosis?
Is your son currently enrolled in a public school, private school and is he receiving special counseling because of his diagnosis.
----------------------------------------------------------------
My next series of questions may appear to be more poignant, but if you would indulge me, your responses would really help with insights we can use to provide some feedback.
How does your son's Tourette express itself...does he have vocal tics, motor tics..if so would you describe them?
Are your son's learning disabilities associated with inability to concentrate, follow the carriculum, organize and complete homework, difficulty studying, schoolroom distractions?
How does your son feel about his Tourette? Does he have a few close friends he hangs out with who are not distracted by his Tourette?
--------------------------------------------------
Finally, family questions:
How do you, your family members, your son's siblings (if any) feel about your son's Tourette and how do theyrespond when he expresses his tics at home?
Does your son receive punishment for his tics?
Does your son have a private space at home where he can express his tics?
If Dad is active in the family at this time, what is the nature of their relationship, and how does Dad respond to your son'e tic expressions?
--------------------------------------------------------
I realize I have asked more questions that have offered comments, but I feel I don't have a clear understanding of your situation to offer anything meaningful.
In addition, we will most certainly look forward to your sharing your own valuable experiences with our Forum members .
As has so often been said, Tourette is not a closed door, but rather an open door to opportunity. By identifying your son's special talents, his academic strengths along with the characteristics of his disorder that can be positive catalysts to bring out the best he can achieve in life, using the right strategies, teaching him the right attitudes, building his self esteem and self confidence, your son can excel at just about anycareer goal on which he sets his sights.
As I prepare my move, packing and preparing for a trek across the Continent, will check into the Forum on an abbreviated basis. However I should be re-installed by the middle of next week,
In the meantime, please carry your discussion with my colleagues.
Hope you find Psychlinks informative and supportive, and also enjoyable.
Regards,
As David mentioned, I am preoccupied this particular week with a move, although I do take time to check into the Forum during spare moments, my time online is limited by the number of chores on my wife's To-Do List. Luckily I was given a heads up on your joining our Forum, so I've taken the opportunity to introduce myself.
By way of background, my diagnosis is Tourette, which did not impede my career of over twenty five years in a support role working with members of the medical commuity. am not a physician, nor a trained health professional, but I do have a keen interest in mental illness suppport with particular focus on Tourette.
If I may, I would like to ask you a few questions, that would provide us with some insights into your and your son's situation.
Do you have a definitive and competent diagnosis that confirms your son has Tourette? Is your son seeing a medical professional who specializes in Tourette and who has extensive clinical experience treating adolescents with Tourette?
Does your son take medication for his diagnosis?
Is your son currently enrolled in a public school, private school and is he receiving special counseling because of his diagnosis.
----------------------------------------------------------------
My next series of questions may appear to be more poignant, but if you would indulge me, your responses would really help with insights we can use to provide some feedback.
How does your son's Tourette express itself...does he have vocal tics, motor tics..if so would you describe them?
Are your son's learning disabilities associated with inability to concentrate, follow the carriculum, organize and complete homework, difficulty studying, schoolroom distractions?
How does your son feel about his Tourette? Does he have a few close friends he hangs out with who are not distracted by his Tourette?
--------------------------------------------------
Finally, family questions:
How do you, your family members, your son's siblings (if any) feel about your son's Tourette and how do theyrespond when he expresses his tics at home?
Does your son receive punishment for his tics?
Does your son have a private space at home where he can express his tics?
If Dad is active in the family at this time, what is the nature of their relationship, and how does Dad respond to your son'e tic expressions?
--------------------------------------------------------
I realize I have asked more questions that have offered comments, but I feel I don't have a clear understanding of your situation to offer anything meaningful.
In addition, we will most certainly look forward to your sharing your own valuable experiences with our Forum members .
As has so often been said, Tourette is not a closed door, but rather an open door to opportunity. By identifying your son's special talents, his academic strengths along with the characteristics of his disorder that can be positive catalysts to bring out the best he can achieve in life, using the right strategies, teaching him the right attitudes, building his self esteem and self confidence, your son can excel at just about anycareer goal on which he sets his sights.
As I prepare my move, packing and preparing for a trek across the Continent, will check into the Forum on an abbreviated basis. However I should be re-installed by the middle of next week,
In the meantime, please carry your discussion with my colleagues.
Hope you find Psychlinks informative and supportive, and also enjoyable.
Regards,
Yes we received a definitive diagnosis of Tourettes. Our family physician doesn't specialize in Tourette, and I don't believe has extensive clinical experience treating adolescents with Tourette. Our family physician was as surprised as we were when the pediatrician released him. The pediatrician who diagnosed him said that he was stable on his meds and that he could be seen by our family doctor from now on.
My son has been on Clonidine for 8 years and has been at the maximum dosage for 7 years.
He is in public school and has an IEP and some support during the day from an EA. This has been a very difficult year for him at school as his Teacher I don't beleive has ever encountered a student with Tourettes and doesn't know how to deal with him. Unfortunately for my son, the Resource Teacher that was in the school last year was exceptional and she worked well with all of the students and teachers. She has moved to a position in the board office otherwise I would have moved him to whatever school she was in. He hates the school he is in now but is looking forward to high school as he is going to a school which has a wonderfull and well established locally developed program. He knows a number of the students there and is looking forward to hanging out with his buddies.
The clonidine does a good job of keeping his tics under control. He does have a slight head nod, eye brow raising, and a very soft vocal tic. The vocal tic is almost as if he is whispering to himself.
I believe that his learning disabilities are associated with the inability to concentrate, he cannot follow the curriculum - he is on a modified program, he is unable to organize and complete homework without assistance, he has difficulty studying, the classroom has many distractions. I don't have a diagnosis but I think he is dyslexic too. He is reading at a late grade 3 level and when he tries to sound out the words it is pretty obvious to me anyways that the letters are mixed up.
He doesn't like to talk about his Tourettes and very rarely will he share his feelings about it with me.
My son loves sports and I have tried to have him on house leagues for hockey but the teasing and bullying were too much for all of us. He started playing hockey when he was 9 and his skill level wasn't a advanced as the others on his team. It was a real blow to his self esteem to be one of the weaker players on the team. Last year I was very fortunate to find a local hockey team that is a special needs team. He is one of the better players and his self esteem has improved. The team consists of young adults so some of the players are older but they have a great time together. To my knowledge he is the only player with Tourettes but they are all very accepting of one another. This is where he has met some of the boys that he will be in high school with next year. They are all older than him and in higher grades but may be in the same resource room at times and already they are discussing what they will do at lunch. Hockey has now finished for the season but one of the coaches has asked him to join the special olympics Floor hockey team and he has met even more friends. This same group will move on to baseball once the floor hockey is finished. Our social life now revolves around his sports schedule.
Our family consists of myself and he has a sister who is a year younger than him. As far as his sister is concerned it's normal for him to tic as that's the way it has always been. She is very involved with his sports as well and comes to all of the games and visits with all the players.
He has never been punished for his tics and every year I meet with the teacher and ask that they ignore the tics and do not draw attention to them. I explain that they are involuntary and that drawing attention to them will stress him and make them worse. Some teachers have been better listeners than others.
His room is his private space at home should he need to tic. He used to have a quiet room in the school, when the old Resource teacher was there she converted a storage closet into a quiet room. It wasn't very big but it was a safe haven for him and there were other children in the school that used it as well. When I ask his current teacher if he can utilize this room during the day she tells me it isn't always available.
Their father is in another province so they only see him once a year. My son misses his father but his father has some mental health issues as well and has a hard time dealing with the children.
I found this forum while looking for some information on Tourettes and anger issues and to inquire about meds to assist with focus.
When playing sports my son will become very frustrated by not making the shot, or a bad call from a referee, or if the other team is beating them and he will bang his stick on the floor. This weekend at a tournament he actually broke his stick when he banged it. I have tried everything to break him from this habit but I have not been successful. I was wondering if anyone else has experienced anything similar. We have an appt with our family physician next week and I wanted to do a little research before hand to see if anyone had any experience with meds to assist with focus.
Thank you
My son has been on Clonidine for 8 years and has been at the maximum dosage for 7 years.
He is in public school and has an IEP and some support during the day from an EA. This has been a very difficult year for him at school as his Teacher I don't beleive has ever encountered a student with Tourettes and doesn't know how to deal with him. Unfortunately for my son, the Resource Teacher that was in the school last year was exceptional and she worked well with all of the students and teachers. She has moved to a position in the board office otherwise I would have moved him to whatever school she was in. He hates the school he is in now but is looking forward to high school as he is going to a school which has a wonderfull and well established locally developed program. He knows a number of the students there and is looking forward to hanging out with his buddies.
The clonidine does a good job of keeping his tics under control. He does have a slight head nod, eye brow raising, and a very soft vocal tic. The vocal tic is almost as if he is whispering to himself.
I believe that his learning disabilities are associated with the inability to concentrate, he cannot follow the curriculum - he is on a modified program, he is unable to organize and complete homework without assistance, he has difficulty studying, the classroom has many distractions. I don't have a diagnosis but I think he is dyslexic too. He is reading at a late grade 3 level and when he tries to sound out the words it is pretty obvious to me anyways that the letters are mixed up.
He doesn't like to talk about his Tourettes and very rarely will he share his feelings about it with me.
My son loves sports and I have tried to have him on house leagues for hockey but the teasing and bullying were too much for all of us. He started playing hockey when he was 9 and his skill level wasn't a advanced as the others on his team. It was a real blow to his self esteem to be one of the weaker players on the team. Last year I was very fortunate to find a local hockey team that is a special needs team. He is one of the better players and his self esteem has improved. The team consists of young adults so some of the players are older but they have a great time together. To my knowledge he is the only player with Tourettes but they are all very accepting of one another. This is where he has met some of the boys that he will be in high school with next year. They are all older than him and in higher grades but may be in the same resource room at times and already they are discussing what they will do at lunch. Hockey has now finished for the season but one of the coaches has asked him to join the special olympics Floor hockey team and he has met even more friends. This same group will move on to baseball once the floor hockey is finished. Our social life now revolves around his sports schedule.
Our family consists of myself and he has a sister who is a year younger than him. As far as his sister is concerned it's normal for him to tic as that's the way it has always been. She is very involved with his sports as well and comes to all of the games and visits with all the players.
He has never been punished for his tics and every year I meet with the teacher and ask that they ignore the tics and do not draw attention to them. I explain that they are involuntary and that drawing attention to them will stress him and make them worse. Some teachers have been better listeners than others.
His room is his private space at home should he need to tic. He used to have a quiet room in the school, when the old Resource teacher was there she converted a storage closet into a quiet room. It wasn't very big but it was a safe haven for him and there were other children in the school that used it as well. When I ask his current teacher if he can utilize this room during the day she tells me it isn't always available.
Their father is in another province so they only see him once a year. My son misses his father but his father has some mental health issues as well and has a hard time dealing with the children.
I found this forum while looking for some information on Tourettes and anger issues and to inquire about meds to assist with focus.
When playing sports my son will become very frustrated by not making the shot, or a bad call from a referee, or if the other team is beating them and he will bang his stick on the floor. This weekend at a tournament he actually broke his stick when he banged it. I have tried everything to break him from this habit but I have not been successful. I was wondering if anyone else has experienced anything similar. We have an appt with our family physician next week and I wanted to do a little research before hand to see if anyone had any experience with meds to assist with focus.
Thank you
Hi again TSson,
Unfortunately I have to be brief in this reply because of some last minute chores to be done before leaving Friday morning, but I look forward to continuing this discussion when I am back online in the middle of next week.
You are to be commended for the interest you have taken in helping your son adapt to his Tourette. I can tell you from my own experience of having lived with Tourette for sixty years that parental support is critical to his self esteem. To additionally help in that regards, you may want to contact the local Chapter of the Tourette Syndrome Foundation Of Canada (416) 861-8398 or 800 361-3120. Meeting other kids with Tourette might provide your son with a global perspective of his disorder and minimize his shyness about it. The TSFC also provides In Service training for teachers at no cost to help orient teachers toward a better understanding of Tourette.
There is a behavioural aspect of Tourette that manifests itself in a display of rage when faced with extreme frustration. It has little to do with anger or hostility, but rather with the wiring of a brain with Tourette. When a person with Tourette is faced with multiple stimuli, multiple commands or extreme frustration in performing a task, a rage reaction sometimes is the release.
As difficult and frustrating as it is for family, friends or colleagues, it should not be seen as a personal attack, and you can either ignore it or just give him a moment to clear his mind and give him a hug. Believe me, once his mind clears, in a few seconds, he probably wishes he would not have reacted that way, but for many with Tourette it's just part of the package. With your support, and as he matures, he may find ways to redirect that energy.
Forgive me for having to leave this interesting discussion for a few days, while I am offline, but I look forward to your further comments next week.
In the meantime give the TSFC a call, to find out about the local support Chapter and perhaps even In Service training. They may even be able to point you to physicians who specialize in Tourette in your area. The TSFC provides some excellent support services in Canada for people with Tourette.
Til next week!
Unfortunately I have to be brief in this reply because of some last minute chores to be done before leaving Friday morning, but I look forward to continuing this discussion when I am back online in the middle of next week.
You are to be commended for the interest you have taken in helping your son adapt to his Tourette. I can tell you from my own experience of having lived with Tourette for sixty years that parental support is critical to his self esteem. To additionally help in that regards, you may want to contact the local Chapter of the Tourette Syndrome Foundation Of Canada (416) 861-8398 or 800 361-3120. Meeting other kids with Tourette might provide your son with a global perspective of his disorder and minimize his shyness about it. The TSFC also provides In Service training for teachers at no cost to help orient teachers toward a better understanding of Tourette.
There is a behavioural aspect of Tourette that manifests itself in a display of rage when faced with extreme frustration. It has little to do with anger or hostility, but rather with the wiring of a brain with Tourette. When a person with Tourette is faced with multiple stimuli, multiple commands or extreme frustration in performing a task, a rage reaction sometimes is the release.
As difficult and frustrating as it is for family, friends or colleagues, it should not be seen as a personal attack, and you can either ignore it or just give him a moment to clear his mind and give him a hug. Believe me, once his mind clears, in a few seconds, he probably wishes he would not have reacted that way, but for many with Tourette it's just part of the package. With your support, and as he matures, he may find ways to redirect that energy.
Forgive me for having to leave this interesting discussion for a few days, while I am offline, but I look forward to your further comments next week.
In the meantime give the TSFC a call, to find out about the local support Chapter and perhaps even In Service training. They may even be able to point you to physicians who specialize in Tourette in your area. The TSFC provides some excellent support services in Canada for people with Tourette.
Til next week!
Hi Steve
Thank you for your encouraging words. I am very fortunate to have found this forum as already you have given me some helpful information. The banging of the stick has been an ongoing problem for years and all along I have said I don't think think it is entirely in his control to stop. I am definately going to share your comments with him and we will try and come up with a plan to help him redirect that energy. I have been telling Teachers, Doctors, Coaches, Parents, that I believe it's the Tourettes and that this isn't something he can just stop - so thank you Steve for your insight to this behaviour. On a more selfish note, I may add, that it pleases me that I have been right! He has a Floor Hockey practice on Sunday afternoon and we are going to start trying some different redirects this weekend.
I have called the TSFC and looking at In Service Training for the high school next year and his current school. I have asked for information about our local chapter as well.
Thank you again and I look forward to more discussions.
Hope your move goes well.
- TSson
Thank you for your encouraging words. I am very fortunate to have found this forum as already you have given me some helpful information. The banging of the stick has been an ongoing problem for years and all along I have said I don't think think it is entirely in his control to stop. I am definately going to share your comments with him and we will try and come up with a plan to help him redirect that energy. I have been telling Teachers, Doctors, Coaches, Parents, that I believe it's the Tourettes and that this isn't something he can just stop - so thank you Steve for your insight to this behaviour. On a more selfish note, I may add, that it pleases me that I have been right! He has a Floor Hockey practice on Sunday afternoon and we are going to start trying some different redirects this weekend.
I have called the TSFC and looking at In Service Training for the high school next year and his current school. I have asked for information about our local chapter as well.
Thank you again and I look forward to more discussions.
Hope your move goes well.
- TSson
NakedWombat
Member
Welcome even though you joined before me. 
My TS does not let me sit in a classroom so I can understand in a way I guess. If he fits in the education system then that is good. Otherwise, have you thought of home schooling? I was not fitting in with the system and would have loved the ability to do so but I was in school in the 70/80's before they were diagnosing. I was just a nervous person who was betrayed by a stutter when nervous. Times have changed.
My TS does not let me sit in a classroom so I can understand in a way I guess. If he fits in the education system then that is good. Otherwise, have you thought of home schooling? I was not fitting in with the system and would have loved the ability to do so but I was in school in the 70/80's before they were diagnosing. I was just a nervous person who was betrayed by a stutter when nervous. Times have changed.
Thank you NakedWombat. My Son doesn't fit in to the education system and I would love the ability to home school that just isn't an option at this time. The high school he will be attending in Sept is better equiped to deal with special needs students and he has met some of the students that will be attending that school. I am very optimistic that next year will be a better year because he will be with other students who also face challenges in the school system so he will for once belong to a group.
Do keep us posted on the progress you make with the TSFC in service training and chapter support.
If the TSFC does not have an in service trainer available, I believe you can purchase a kit that provides you with all the materials needed so you can moderate a session by following the program. I've seen the audio visual presentation for in service and it has been designed so anyone can present it. Another option could be to enlist the aid of someone from the local TSFC chapter to accompany you on such a presentation.
Another strategy could be to invite someone from the local chapter to give a "show and tell" presentation to your son's class. I've done this on behalf of students in a high school setting and found it to be helpful. If nothing else, it can elevate your son's profile among his classmates and allow him to proactively explain Tourette, thereby helping to diffuse some of the potentially uninformed, inappropriate responses from teachers and fellow students.
Yes, thank you. It was our semi annual snowbird migration.
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