Awareness of Students with Diverse Learning Needs,
What the Teacher Needs to Know, Volume 1

Tourette Syndrome is neurological or neurochemical disorder characterized by tics - involuntary muscular movements, uncontrollable vocal sounds, and/or inappropriate words. The symptoms usually appear between the ages of two and 21. Symptoms wax and wane, often with one type of tic replacing another, and the syndrome is often mistaken for a psychological disorder.

Current research suggests that the disorder stems in part from abnormally low levels of neurotransmitters in the brain. Neurotransmitters are chemicals which carry signals from cell to cell and regulate movement and behaviour. There are indicators of an hereditary component and a higher incidence of Tourette Syndrome among males than females. As yet there is no cure, although medication will often help control symptoms. In some cases, remission or a marked improvement may occur as the student grows older. Generally, Tourette syndrome is chronic, but not fatal.

Tics may be suppressed for a short time, however, the urge for movement often becomes irresistible and must be released. During periods of stress the tics become more evident. Symptoms will change, may appear in a different form, and increase or decrease over time. Tics are classified as simple and complex.

Simple

• Motor: eye blinking, head jerking, facial grimaces and shoulder shrugging.
• Vocal: barking noises, throat clearing, sniffing, coughing and tongue clicking.

Complex

• Motor: jumping, touching, twirling and sometimes self-injurious actions.
• Vocal: repeating phrases or words (palilalia), uttering socially unacceptable words (coprolalia) and repeating words of others (echolalia).

Students may function well in school depending on the severity of the disorder. A growing number of individuals with Tourette Syndrome have achieved success in such diverse fields as medicine, engineering, law, journalism and computer science. Some students may require special help at times in particular subjects. They do require a compassionate environment with strong support from classmates and teachers to help them cope with cognitive, social and emotional problems which may arise. The need to accept themselves, and to have others accept them as they are, is of paramount importance.