Tourettes Sydrome.

Until about 2 years ago I didn't know much about this disorder other than what is portrayed in the media. Reports of people who scream out obscenities for no reason or people who bark like a dog.

Now I live with this disorder daily - both of my biological children have it.

The good news is that this disorder is NOT what is portrayed in the media for most people.

Ten months ago we met with our developmental pediatrician to hear his diagnosis of our 10 year old son T. He has Tourettes Syndrome. T has had tics since he was 4 years old. I can remember laying in bed with him watching TV and he would make a small noise, like a throat clearing, over and over. I discussed it with our pediatrician and he said this was common and would most likely go away. Unfortunately it didn't.

Two weeks ago we met with our developmental pediatrician to hear his
diagnosis of our 8 year old son J. He also has Tourettes Syndrome. At
this point it is mild, his tics are just beginning but there is no way
to know how it will progress.

Tourettes generally begins around 6 to 8 years of age. It progresses differently in everyone but generally peaks around the age of 15 and then generally begins to slow as people move into adulthood. Verbal tics can range from slight grunting noises or throat clearing to screaming or barking. Swearing is a very rare form of Tourettes. Motor tics can range from blinking or head shaking to kicking or thrashing. To be diagnosed with Tourettes a person must have both motor and verbal tics that last for a period of at least 6 months without going away. Over time tics wax and wane in intensity and form and are aggravated by stress and tiredness.

As I have watched T. go through this I have seen him change from a happy, spirited, joyous child to an anxious, irritable, frustrated, and self-conscious young man. It has broken my heart to see him in such pain yet it has made me unbelievably proud to see him accept it and keep moving forward.

I wonder how it is going to effect and change J. I don't want him to have to go through the hurt and struggle that his brother went through while we get his meds right. I hate hearing him cry at bedtime because children were mean to him today. When I look at him and see him tic I want to hold him and make it stop, but I can't.

What I can do though is love them and support them, forever and ever.