What is Tourette Syndrome?
Tourette syndrome is a nervous system (neurological) disorder that starts in childhood. It involves unusual repetitive movements or unwanted sounds that can't be controlled (tics). For instance, you may repeatedly blink your eyes, shrug your shoulders or jerk your head. In some cases, you might unintentionally blurt out offensive words. (Mayoclinic's definition)
Students who have Tourette syndrome are often misclassified as children who are emotionally disturbed due to the sudden outburst of odd sounds and movement. Tourette Syndrome is however a neurological disorder and should be classified as "other health impairments" under IDEA. The ticks that a person with Tourette's can not be controlled, but many of these children are viewed as having a behavioral or conduct disorder, therefore, they do not receive appropriate special education and related services.Indicators of Tourette Syndrome
Children with Tourette Syndrome usually show signs of the disorder between the age of 2 and 12 years old. The average age for showing signs is about 7 years old and it has been found in studies that male children are approximately three times as likely to develop Tourette Syndrome than females. Those who develop Tourette's will exhibit tics, which are sudden outbursts of motor movements or sounds. These tics can range from mild to severe and can interfere with day to day communication. There are two classifications of tics, which are simple tics and complex tics. Simple tics are usually brief and limited to small group of muscles. A complex tic is more distinct and can encompass multiple muscle groups. The following is a list of tics both complex and simple. It also separates tics into vocal and motor tics.
Simple tics Complex tics
Eye blinking Touching the nose
Head jerking Touching other people
Shoulder shrugging Smelling objects
Eye darting Obscene gesturing
Finger flexing Flapping the arms
Sticking the tongue out Hopping
Vocal tics
Simple tics Complex tics
Hiccuping Using different tones of voice
Yelling Repeating one's own words or phrases
Throat clearing Repeating others' words or phrases
Barking Using vulgar, obscene or swear words
Modifications and Strategies for the classroom
Allow the student a separate test location with no time limit or extended time.Educate other students who come into contact with a classmate with TS. Contact your local chapter to see if a Youth Ambassador is available to provide a peer in-service. If not, a video of a Youth Ambassador presenting to a class is available on the Association website.
If possible provide a place in which the student may release their tic without disturbing other students or classrooms. This should can be their safe place when their symptoms are enhanced.
Give the student breaks out of the classroom, it can be helpful to have a change in settings; for example going to the restroom, getting a drink from the drinking fountain, or running an errand for the teacher.
Brainstorm possible solutions with the student-- if tics are socially inappropriate (spitting, swearing, touching people inappropriately), and unless the child is very young, help the student think of different ways that they can express his or her tic (e.g., a student may suggest or agree to spit into a tissue as a solution).
In certain instances, students may be receiving specific clinical therapies outside of the school such as Comprehensive Behavioral Intervention for Tics (CBIT) or other types of therapies. Such treatments may require very different classroom approaches. In these cases, the child, family, or practitioner would engage the teacher and school directly
Sources
http://idea.ed.gov/explore/view/p/,root,regs,preamble2,prepart2,A,94,
