During the pandemic, children have been spending long periods at home, leading to more time spent with their parents. This should be a happy occasion for the whole family. However, some parents have also discovered that their children are frequently exhibiting strange tics, such as blinking, lip-licking, nose-wrinkling, and shoulder-shrugging, prompting them to seek medical advice. These seemingly minor tics could indicate that the child has Tourette syndrome.
Tourette Syndrome: Presentation and Symptom Classification
Tourette syndrome is generally divided into "provisional tic disorder" or "persistent motor or vocal tic disorder". "Provisional tic disorder" generally has symptoms lasting less than a year, while "persistent tic disorder" has symptoms lasting for more than a year, with only "motor" or "vocal" tics appearing.
The most common symptoms of "motor tics" include blinking, grimacing, shrugging shoulders, head nodding, jerking the neck, and even sudden movements of limbs or arm jerking. "Vocal tics" include throat clearing, coughing, grunting, hiccuping, or animal noises.
Symptoms usually appear before the age of 18.
Tourette syndrome primarily appears during childhood, potentially starting from the age of two. It generally becomes most severe in early adolescence before gradually lessening into adulthood. Statistics indicate that approximately 10% of children have Tourette syndrome, with a male-to-female ratio of 9 to 1. Those withAttention deficitPatients with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), or Anxiety Disorders also more frequently exhibit Tourette syndrome symptoms.
The causes of Tourette Syndrome are not yet fully understood, but it is believed to be related to the secretion of the brain's chemical messenger dopamine, and problems with the connections between the basal ganglia and the prefrontal cortex in the brain. Genetic predisposition also plays a role. If Tourette Syndrome is suspected in a child, it is recommended to contact a paediatrician to develop a treatment plan!
Paediatric tic disorder treatment
Cooperate with the doctor for timely treatment and give the child more care.
Most children with Tourette's syndrome do not have other health problems, and their bodily functions are normal. However, because of their abnormal motor or vocal tics, they are often ridiculed and ostracised by their peers, or misunderstood by their parents as being deliberately mischievous and subsequently reprimanded, which affects the child's emotions and self-confidence.
Generally speaking, treatment should begin with psychotherapy and social education.
Once diagnosed, parents and other family members should first be made aware of the symptoms and situation of Tourette syndrome. Afterwards, when the child exhibits tics, direct questioning and reminders should be avoided, and there should be no scolding. Overprotection, spoiling, or excessive concern and interference should also be avoided, to prevent the child from being in a state of prolonged tension. Positive methods should be used to manage the condition. At the same time, school teachers can be informed of the condition to help the child manage school-related issues and peer relationships.
