An Individual diagnosed with Tourette's Syndrome (TS) faces quite a few issues in their lives.
Auditory & Visual
Individuals with TS need more time to process info. For instance, in a classroom setting, a student with TS requires some time to think before they can answer a teacher's question. This can lead to some giving up entirely on expressing their opinions, and a few to fill the awkward silence by saying negative things such as, “Shut up” and ”This is dumb”. Nonetheless, people have to remember that this happens due to the child’s neurological difficulties and not because of deliberate misbehavior.
Sensory Integration
Processing specific sensory stimuli (can be hypersensitive) is a difficulty for individuals diagnosed with TS. They are easily over-stimulated by minor things such as noise, bright lights, the feel of certain fabrics, certain tastes or smells. Sometimes there may be a need for excessive sensory input (chewing, hitting or hurting himself in some manner).
Attentional
They cannot concentrate in class, because once they do they will not be able to suppress their tics. Since tics are like coughs and sneezing it would require a very large amount of focus to refrain from doing it. This is also the reason why sometimes they look like they are not paying attention in class.e.g: doodling
Reading
Some of them have an obsession that compels them to count every word in a sentence and every sentence in the paragraph, which makes reading a strenuous task.
Handwriting
This includes sloppiness, frequent erasing, reduced output, slow writing, refusal to write, writing that’s difficult to read and time-consuming efforts at perfectionism, which can lead to frustration due to dissatisfaction of handwriting.
This is usually caused by hand, finger, wrist, arm, neck, shoulder, head and eye tics or hand cramping, and lack of coordination or fine motor skills.
Social Skills Deficit
This is a major problem for many TS individuals. Their tics may be rather disruptive or socially inappropriate. They are hence unable to understand socially acceptable behaviors.
They tend to talk continuously and/or interpret things in a very literal fashion.
Inconsistent Performance
The characteristics of TS can be explained by the fluctuating levels of brain chemistry, which results in varying symptoms and ability to perform consistently. This is why an individual with TS experience tics at random timings. Sometimes, adults think that a child is being manipulated when they cannot manage to complete a task or perform poorly, but just like how basketball players do not always get the ball into the hoop, we cannot expect TS individuals to stay focused with their tasks and accomplish them all the time.
Lack of Control
A child with TS may feel that he is being controlled by his tics. Refusal to do work may be one’s desperate attempt to get a sense of control to his world of inconsistency and loss of control over his actions.
Anxiety
“Anxiety is always the enemy of intelligence. The minute anxiety arises, intelligence closes to search for anything that relieves the anxiety.”, Joseph Chilton Pearce (Giordano & Edelman, n.d.). Stress and anxiety can often make symptoms of Tourette Syndrome worse. It can also bring down confidence.
Fear of risk-taking
A child can be reluctant to take risks due to his anxiety. Even worse, he may not want to confront his anxiety due to embarrassment, which can hinder him from expressing himself and attempt tasks.
Sensory Integration
Attentional
They cannot concentrate in class, because once they do they will not be able to suppress their tics. Since tics are like coughs and sneezing it would require a very large amount of focus to refrain from doing it. This is also the reason why sometimes they look like they are not paying attention in class.e.g: doodling
Reading
Some of them have an obsession that compels them to count every word in a sentence and every sentence in the paragraph, which makes reading a strenuous task.
Handwriting
This is usually caused by hand, finger, wrist, arm, neck, shoulder, head and eye tics or hand cramping, and lack of coordination or fine motor skills.
Executive Dysfunction Disorder (EF deficit)
e.g: time management and problem solving
Executive Function includes skills such planning, reasoning and problem solving. Those with TS are chronically disorganized, having difficulties in "developing or implementing strategies to overcome problems"(Giordano & Edelman, n.d.). This also means that they experience “output failure” which creates significant obstacles to academic success.
Executive Function includes skills such planning, reasoning and problem solving. Those with TS are chronically disorganized, having difficulties in "developing or implementing strategies to overcome problems"(Giordano & Edelman, n.d.). This also means that they experience “output failure” which creates significant obstacles to academic success.
Social Skills Deficit
This is a major problem for many TS individuals. Their tics may be rather disruptive or socially inappropriate. They are hence unable to understand socially acceptable behaviors.
They tend to talk continuously and/or interpret things in a very literal fashion.
Inconsistent Performance
The characteristics of TS can be explained by the fluctuating levels of brain chemistry, which results in varying symptoms and ability to perform consistently. This is why an individual with TS experience tics at random timings. Sometimes, adults think that a child is being manipulated when they cannot manage to complete a task or perform poorly, but just like how basketball players do not always get the ball into the hoop, we cannot expect TS individuals to stay focused with their tasks and accomplish them all the time.
Lack of Control
A child with TS may feel that he is being controlled by his tics. Refusal to do work may be one’s desperate attempt to get a sense of control to his world of inconsistency and loss of control over his actions.
Anxiety
“Anxiety is always the enemy of intelligence. The minute anxiety arises, intelligence closes to search for anything that relieves the anxiety.”, Joseph Chilton Pearce (Giordano & Edelman, n.d.). Stress and anxiety can often make symptoms of Tourette Syndrome worse. It can also bring down confidence.
Fear of risk-taking
A child can be reluctant to take risks due to his anxiety. Even worse, he may not want to confront his anxiety due to embarrassment, which can hinder him from expressing himself and attempt tasks.
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