BUST-A-MYTH!!

Debunking Some Common Misconceptions About TS

No, you are not crazy. TS is not a mental disease. It is a biological disorder of the nervous system. Sometimes, it is referred to as a brain disorder.

Definate myth here, and one of the most often occuring misconceptions, thanks to the 'sensationalism' of corprolalia(the act of blurting curse or 'dirty' words out of the blue). It is known that less than 30% of TSer's have this particular tic, and as a matter of fact, it does not need to be present in order for TS to be diagnosed. My son Nick 'masks' or covers up his tendencies for corprolalia by saying the word "FINE". I'll let you wonder what he is masking!

This myth is aimed at us parents, who are trying to raise the sometimes difficult TS child! Some people actually believe that TS is not 'real', and if only us parents were better at our job, our kids would not have TS. If anyone tosses this myth your way, remind them gently that TS is a neurological disorder, and that is why you pay the big bucks for your kid to see a neurologist.

You Will Suck At Sports If You Have TS!!

Oh, please, does this myth really still exsist? *SIGH* Not true. Nick has played soccer for two years, and he is one of the quickest best players I have seen!(so I am proud!)Just so you have ammunition to Bust this Myth, let me give you the names of two well known sports figures who have TS. One is Jim Eisenreich, right fielder who plays for the Philadelphia Phillies. The other is Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf(formerly known as Chris Jackson)of the Denver Nuggets. Can these two play or what? Of course, you must throw in the fact that your own child plays, if indeed she does. This debunks the myth quite nicely!!

Some people feel that a person with TS is doing it on purpose, maybe for the attention, or that the person with TS could stop if he really wanted to. Again, and I do hate to be redundant, but this type of thinker needs to be gently reminded that TS is a neurological disorder, and it cannot be helped. Sure, TSer's can hold off a tic(ever take your kid to the DR? Seems like those tics take a lunch break at the Drs office, huh?), but once in a 'safe' environment(ie., home), the tics come back with a force! Kids don't tic on purpose. No one wants to stand out in a crowd, and when one has TS, they stand out, especially as a kid. I sincerely doubt a kid would want the attention the sometimes embarassing TS tics bring upon them.

Well, by now we know that it is most certainly NOT a phase(insert our gentle reminder here!), and yes, in some cases, the tics do fade away with adulthood. But, some persons keep their TS throughout their adulthood.

You Must Be Dumb!!

While it is a fact that some persons with TS will have associated disorders that may slow down learning(ad/hd;OCD), it does not mean that a child can't learn. It just means the child has difficulty paying attention, and needs to be worked with and monitored to ensure a good education.Once the child's teacher is made aware of the TS, the teacher has a responsibility to your child to ensure that the learning environment is TS friendly. This sometimes means untimed tests, several extra breaks to relieve tics during the day and to release stress, and just generally being aware of your child's situation.

You're Touched By The Devil!!

Believe it or not, some strange folks out here hear about the often wild and wooly tics of TS, and immediately assume the TSer is 'possessed'. In the olden days, people were tortured or burned at the stake for suffering from bizarre conditions that today, we know are mental and neurological disorders. Thank goodness for the miracles of modern medicine, and for Gilles de la Tourette!

No, PLEASE do not make a big deal of the tics! If your tic happened to be barking, don't you think you would be well aware that you barked, and wish to Heavens you could stop? Of course. Sometimes, a person with TS does not realize he is ticcing, because it is just part of his life. But, he always knowshe has TS, so pointing out a tic would likely do A) No Good, or B) Cause extra stress and embarassment. So, let's try to bust this myth Good!

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