Resources for Educators & Parents of school-aged Children

It is quite common for the behavioural issues related to TS to present prior to the tics, which can cause a lot of confusion and frustration for everyone involved.

The factors that appear to be of importance with regard to social adaptation include the seriousness of attentional problems, intelligence, the degree of family acceptance and support, and ego strength more than the severity of motor and vocal tics. It is important to be mindful that each child's coping skills differ. Some children with mild symptoms have a great deal of difficulty coping with the impact of their symptoms in social situations, while others with severe cases blithely go through life as if their symptoms were a complete non-issue. The capacity to cope seems to have little or nothing to do with the actual symptoms and much more to do with the individual personality, family and the nurturing — or less than nurturing — environment in which the child grows up. School can provide a safe place for children with TS to develop the coping skills that they will need as adults.

A major problem for parents and teachers is understanding which behaviours are beyond the control of the child with Tourettes and which can be — should be — controlled. If the family can learn to accept the member with Tourettes along with the symptoms — not despite them, it can provide the sense of security necessary for a healthy approach to the "outside world", promoting self-esteem and competency in school and peer group relationships.

Many children with Tourettes have school performance handicaps that require special intervention, and children with both Tourettes and ADHD, OCD or other associated conditions are especially vulnerable to long term educational impairment. Even a bright student with Tourettes who does not have specific learning disabilities, but has attentional problems will have their optimal functioning limited without special provisions being in place.

So you can see, that although TS does not affect one’s intellect, TS can greatly affect a child's learning ability. It is often these issues that pose more problems for the person than the tics of TS.

Teaching a child with TS will be in some cases challenging, but the rewards are great to help a child reach their potential. TS is a neurological condition, not a psychological one, and the range of intelligence in children with TS runs the full spectrum from dull to bright. The tics and other symptoms, however, can interfere with anyone's progress if not identified and help given.