Tics

Republic of the Philippines

POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES

Graduate School

M.H. Del Pilar Campus, Valencia St. corner R. Magsaysay Blvd.

Sta. Mesa, Manila

THE TOURETTE SYNDROME

Tourette syndrome has recently been identified as a disorder by most of children and a number of adult in the present era. Tourette syndrome is characterized by tics which are sudden, rapid, recurrent, non-rhythmic motor movement or vocalization. The tics may wax and wane in frequency but have persisted for more than one year since first tic onset. An individual displaying such characteristics can only be diagnosed before the age of eighteen years old. Noticeably, the said phase is part of the milestones of life where socialization, interest and interpersonal relationship are salient in forming one’s individuality. Adolescent impacted with such condition can actually be seen by other people as a severe abnormality, commonly it was being misdiagnosed by many clinicians, and they could even consider this as mental retardation or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder which may also display similar symptoms. Family or relatives of individuals being diagnosed with Tourette syndrome can also be affected with the social’s destructive commentaries and observations towards their child. A mother in the documentary of iWitness said: “Sa totoo lang nahihirapan ako kapag nakikita kong pinaguusapan nila ang aking anak, may mga taong nagbubulungan, iba kung makatingin… kaya minsan iniisip ko, sa akin na lang sana ang pinapasan ng aking anak.” It must be very difficult for the parents to handle such commentaries and observations, these parents could actually been dampened because of his or her child’s condition. Some people diagnosed with PT based on their life’s history, as they go through higher educational level have to stop because the school administration assumed that they cannot cater enough to the needs of the child, sending them to rehabilitation medicine clinics and...