What are the causes of Tourette’s syndrome?
Its cause is complex and no one has been able to identify it yet. But scientists believe that the cause comes from a problem in one or more parts of the brain.
How is the diagnosis of Tourette’s syndrome confirmed?
Doctors confirm the disease by observing the patient’s twitches and jerks or by the patient’s parents or the patient’s description. There are no tests that can confirm the diagnosis of the disease. Some doctors require tests to rule out other diseases that may interfere with the confirmation of TS. Qiao Liang, Department of Functional Neurosurgery, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University
Do patients with TS have any problems other than twitching?
No, but the most common problems associated with TS are s
ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) – poor concentration, hyperactivity and poor self-control. Children with TS often present first with ADHD.
Learning difficulties – Difficulties with reading, writing and counting, and difficulties understanding concepts. These problems are not related to the child’s intelligence.
Demeanor and Emotional Control Problems – Aggressive, irritable, provocative, or socially unacceptable behaviors and behaviors.
Anxiety Disorders – Excessive worry or fear, including anxiety about being separated from others, excessive shyness.
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) – Repetitive, harmful or intrusive thoughts. Typical OCD thoughts include an excessive desire to do things “just right” and intrusive religious, sexual, or other invasive thoughts. Examples of harmful behaviors that cause a person to believe that something must be done repeatedly or in a certain way include trying to get everything to look or feel “just right”; touching something harmful or dangerous even though you don’t want to; intrusive, abnormal, sexual or religious thoughts; repeatedly checking to see if the stove is off or the room is not. whether the stove is turned off or the door is locked.
Emotional problems – Periodic frustration or mania that results in behavioral changes that are drastically different from the child’s previous temperament.
Social problems – When the child is at school, he or she does not get along with classmates or is isolated and withdrawn from classmates.
Sleep problems – Difficulty falling asleep or sleeping for long periods of time, bedwetting, sleepwalking or sleep talking.
How is Tourette’s syndrome treated?
Most of the time, the symptoms of tics are mild and do not require medication. When the tics are frequent and uncontrollable, medication may be considered. Determining the correct dosage that will cure the condition without side effects takes patience. Doctors usually start with a small dose of medication and then increase it over a few days or weeks. The doctor observes the side effects of the medication (such as drowsiness, restlessness, agitation, weight gain, and behavioral changes) to determine the most appropriate dose for the patient. Sometimes when other conditions are more severe than TS, doctors treat the other conditions first. On the surgical side, doctors use bilateral deep brain electrical stimulators implanted into specific target sites in the brain. This is a relatively new surgical tool that has emerged in the last 10 years to control symptoms and improve quality of life in patients with severe disease. Information on patient selection, evaluation, and surgical approach related to the surgical procedure requires consultation with a specialist functional neurosurgeon.
How to treat other problems associated with TS patients?
There are several medications available to treat other conditions associated with TS. For school-aged children, inattention, impulsivity, ADHD and OCD are the real problems they encounter in school. Medications may be necessary for them. Medications of choice to treat these types of problems are central stimulant medications. Methylphenidate and dextroamphetamine are the chemical names for these drugs. Although studies have shown that these medications do not make the tics of the disease worse than taking placebo medications, the tics may worsen in some patients and require attention. Similarly, although the scientific evidence does not yet support the above findings, the product descriptions for these drugs still caution children with tics to be vigilant when taking these drugs. It says that it is possible that symptoms may worsen in some individuals after taking such medications, or that the medications may induce tics. It is complicated to explain why this happens. Since the aggravation and reduction of twitching occurs on its own, it is likely to be mere coincidence that twitching becomes severe after taking the drug. It is very important that you always discuss this with your doctor and make sure your doctor has answered all your questions before taking the medication. Anxiolytic medications may be given when repetitive ideation and behavior, worry and depression interfere with the patient’s daily functioning.
Do students with TS syndrome need special education?
People with TS disorders have the same intelligence as normal people, but there are many patients who need special education. Tics, ADHD, learning difficulties, disruptive behaviors, anxiety and mood disorders can all interfere with learning. Mitigating these symptoms or minimizing their effects through appropriate modifications can improve educational outcomes for children with TS. Children who have special educational needs can be educated by developing special educational approaches based on the learning characteristics of the child with the disorder.