When a child suddenly grunts, yells, or acts up, people, particularly elders, mistake it for misbehaviour. Some even refer to it as attention-seeking behaviour. However, before jumping to conclusions, it is crucial to rule out certain underlying conditions like Tourette syndrome, which could be behind the tics or what appears to be tantrums.
Tourette Syndrome is a neurological disorder characterised by involuntary movements and speeches that are often beyond a child's control. Unfortunately, the condition is incurable and often leads to mild to severe tics. However, it can be managed through various treatments and therapies. In an interaction with the OnlyMyHealth team, Dr Himani Narula Khanna, Developmental Behavioural Paediatrician and Adolescent Mental Health Expert, Co-founder of Continua Kids, Delhi, lists some effective strategies to help parents manage Tourette syndrome in their kids.
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How Common Is Tourette Syndrome In Children?
According to Dr Khanna, Tourette syndrome is very common and is seen in one in 160 children, where boys are more commonly and frequently diagnosed as compared to the girls.
While the exact cause of Tourette is not known, it's an epigenetic origin that means some genetic factors and environmental factors together play a very important role in the causation.
Research suggests that children with Tourette syndrome often also have other conditions like Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), anxiety disorder, and Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD).
How To Identify Tourette Syndrome In Kids
Dr Khanna defines Tourette syndrome as a neurological disorder that has repetitive involuntary movements and vocalisations known as tics.
These tics can be of two types: one motor tic and the other is vocal tics.
Motor tics can have features like blinking, head jerking, and facial grimacing. On the other hand, vocal tics can have features like throat clearing, sniffing again and again, or grunting again and again.
These symptoms together are called Tourette syndrome, and the severity of these symptoms can fluctuate over time.
Ways Parents Can Manage Tics In Children
Managing tics in children with Tourette syndrome can be challenging. However, it isn’t impossible. “The first thing is to provide them a nice, structured, stress-free environment to minimise their triggers,” says Dr Khanna, sharing that relaxation techniques and deep breathing exercises can help them.
“We can encourage them to take small breaks and go for physical activity to release their stress, and we must communicate with the teacher, tell them what the challenge is, and say that it’s involuntary and not done intentionally by the child. The child should not be punished in school or should not be teased or bullied in their class. Gradually work with the child; one must focus on building their strength and focus on fostering their self-esteem,” she emphasises.
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Treatment Options For Tourette Syndrome In Children
Various therapies are also available. These include:
- Habit reversal therapy is a type of behavioural therapy that helps people identify and suppress tics.
- Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), where they address the stress and anxiety part
- Comprehensive behavioural intervention for tics (CBIT): An evidence-based behavioural therapy that uses habit reversal training.
Role of medication
According to Dr Khanna, antipsychotic medications can help reduce the severity of tics in Tourette syndrome, and there are certain other alpha adrenergic medications also, which can be considered for managing these conditions, or sometimes the coexisting conditions, like ADHD.
Support Is Key!
When it comes to managing Tourette syndrome, support and care play a major role. Dr Khanna highlights the importance of a supportive environment, which includes a room for open communication, where children are taught various strategies to manage their tics, where they’re provided accommodations in schools, such as giving them small movement breaks, reducing stressful episodes, or stress-triggering episodes.
“We can educate the peers and the staff in the school so that the stigma around Tourette syndrome gets reduced. And creating a stress-free environment, or an accepting environment, can reduce anxiety to a large extent, and it can also reduce the occurrence of tics in that child, or reduce the severity at least.” So, proper education, awareness, and a supportive environment can really help a child or an individual with Tourette syndrome sustain and survive, the doctor notes.