Healthy Habits: Tourette Syndrome and Tic Disorders

 

This back-to-school season is like no other. What was expected in March to be a temporary closure due to COVID-19 has spilled into August, leaving teachers, administrators, students and parents not knowing what is next. Tourette Syndrome and Tic Disorders affects one in 100 students. More than half of school-aged children with TS have a co-occurring condition, like ADHD, anxiety or depression. These conditions, along with other learning disabilities, can negatively influence learning, making it extremely difficult for students to concentrate in the classroom. The Tourette Association of America's Education Advisory Board has listed the best practices that will help reduce anxiety and give some predictability and routine to the school year with help from students as well!

Preparing for the 2020/2021 School Year TAA’s Education Advisory Board + students have offered advice on best practices that will help reduce anxiety and give some predictability and routine to the school year.

The upcoming school year will be vastly different in light of COVID-19. Whether classes are held in-person or virtually, the Tourette Association of America is here to provide you with resources and tips for every type of classroom setting. We understand that there is not a one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to school this year. School attendance is particularly unique. Everyone has different ideas and opinion. Know that the choices you make are what’s best for you and your family. To help guide you into the new school year, members of the TAA’s Education Advisory Board have offered advice on best practices that will help reduce anxiety and give some predictability and routine to the school year. Get into a sleep and morning routine two weeks before school starts to help keep your child healthy and reduce stress.  Most students will be working from home at some point. Have a space dedicated to schoolwork where your child can focus and be most productive.  When working from home, find exercises that can be done during break times. Mindfulness breaks may be helpful as well. Have a plan for what will work best and when. If your child is having trouble wearing a mask, find a mask that is most comfortable for your child. Build in time each day for your child to keep his or her mask on. Try to extend the amount of time the mask is worn each day.  Plan ahead with your child’s school for specific sensory breaks. Students will likely be sitting in one spot for a longer period of time. Have either hard copies or electronic copies of the TAA’s Educator Toolkits to give to everyone working with your or your child. View the tool kit, as well as additional resources, below. To order hard copies, email info@tourette.org.  You or your child can write a one-page email or a letter to all educators and highlight your strengths, symptoms, and accommodations that work best.  You can plan on educating staff and peers about Tourette Syndrome either in-person or virtually. A letter to all teachers and support staff from the parent, child, or both can be helpful. Consider, also, making a very short video that you can share with teachers and/or peers. You can also contact us at (718) 224-2999 to help educate peers and staff at your school. You can also contact us at info@tourette.org. If your child has an IEP and receives services at school, it will be important to communicate with your school on what these services will look like. It may be more important than ever to have support with managing assignments. Your child is listening and can pick up on your anxiety. Share that school is going to look different for your family this year. It is important to be positive about the decisions you have made for school. Listen to your child’s concerns about the school year. Are there plans you can put in place to reduce a particular stressor? That way you can be more prepared to help them with their emotions during the first few weeks of school. Communicate with your school about any anxiety your child or teen is facing either with online learning or going back to school. A school counselor or social worker may have tips for supporting the student and may be able to communicate with classroom teachers about the student.  Trust that you are doing your best to support your child through this. For more tips, check out their YouTube channel.

### About the Tourette Association of America Founded in 1972, the Tourette Association of America (TAA) is dedicated to making life better for all individuals affected by Tourette and Tic Disorders. As the only national organization serving this community, the TAA works to raise awareness, advance research, and provide ongoing support to patients and families. To this end, the TAA directs a network of 31 Chapters, 83 support groups and recognizes 20 Centers of Excellence across the country. For more information on Tourette and Tic Disorders, call 1-888-4-TOURET and visit us at tourette.org, and on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube. About Tourette Syndrome and Tic Disorders Tourette Syndrome is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by sudden, involuntary movements and/or sounds called tics. They can include eye blinking, head jerking and facial movements — throat clearing, sniffing and tongue clicking. The involuntary utterance of obscene words is called coprolalia, and it’s much rarer than people think: Only 10 percent of people diagnosed with Tourette experience these symptoms. There is no cure for Tourette. The cause also remains unknown, but it is thought to involve genetic, neurological and environmental factors that can be treated. Tourette is underdiagnosed. Many children, parents, teachers and even physicians don’t fully understand TS, which can lead to bullying, a lack of community support, an improper diagnosis, lack of quality education, and a host of other issues that impair the quality of life for someone with TS.