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

Recognizing the Child with Tourette Syndrome

If the condition is suspected, advise the parents to consult with their physician. A comprehensive medical and psychological assessment should be undertaken. Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial. Treatment ranging from simple support and understanding to medications and psychological counseling may be required. Some, but not necessarily all, of the following symptoms may be evident:

• Involuntary muscular movements (tics), simple or complex, including neck stretching, arm movements, facial twitches, imitating movements of others.
• Vocal tics, simple or complex, including: grunting, humming, snorting, burping and other inappropriate sounds and words.
• Obsessive-compulsive behaviour: the student feels that something must be done over and over, or always in a particular order, and therefore, needs more time to prepare for an activity e.g., texts and notebooks must be arranged in a particular sequence, clothing must be put on in a particular order.
• Difficulty in concentrating, easy distractibility, not seeming to listen, failing to finish what is started, needing a great deal of supervision.
• General fidgeting and restlessness.
• Impulsive behaviour, or shifting from one activity to another without thinking.
• Poor academic performance, not in keeping with abilities.
• Poor self esteem and difficulty getting along with peers and adults.
• Short attention span.
• Forgetfulness.
• Poor coordination.
• Difficulty in acquiring basic skills for learning to read (the student may get "stuck" on a word or phrase), spell, write and do arithmetic.
• Frustration from trying hard and not succeeding, sudden intense flare-ups of anger at minor stimuli.