Question
74: I
was....wondering something about coprolalia.
I understand there is an average age where children
develop coprolalia - somewhere around 12-14,
is that correct? Do children who develop this
learn the swear words from what they hear or
is it a natural vocal tic that causes them to
swear. I guess what I'm wondering is if children
who have tourettes hear swearing and develop
coprolalia are they more likely to swear? Should
a person be cautious about swearing around someone
with TS? JS, MB, Canada
Response
Question
53: My daughter had a vocal tic that
lasted for about a year and then "disappeared"
again for about a year. After many months agonizing
over whether or not to get her routine childhood
immunizations we went ahead with them. Three
weeks after her immunization the vocal tic came
back (after being gone for one year). What are
the chances that the immunization triggered
the tic or that it was part of the waxing and
waning of tics? I wasn't aware that someone
could be totally tic-free for a year and then
have the tic re-occur. I am very distressed
and feel extremely guilty about this. I can't
help but think that the tic would not have started
if she didn't have the immunization. Do you
have any information on this? Keep up the good
work!! D.E., ON, Canada.
Response
Question
49: I am wondering if you know of any
information you have regarding hits to the head
of a person with TS. Twice now M. has been hit
hard in hockey(no concussion to the head) and
it almost seems that his ticks have gotten worse
after the accident. Do you know if there has
been any research in this area - is this possible?
He was hit about 3 weeks ago and before that
he had hardly ticked, he was happy and now he
is ticking has increased and his volume and
energy level has gone up and gets frustrated
easily. Could there be a relation or am I way
out in left field?! Yours Truly, J.S., MB, Canada.
Response
Question
45: What happened to the tics during
your presentation today? You speak of the brain's
supervisor over motor movements going on coffee
breaks in Tourette syndrome -- was the supervisor
not permitted a break? M.B., ON, Canada
Response
Question
42: My sister is 44 years old. She
has exhibited TS symptoms for decades....Most
pronounced are her verbal tics. While never
profane, she has classic TS symptoms. On June
29, my sister was diagnosed with a BRAIN TUMOUR,
on her speech center, left parietal lobe. Since
then, her tics have become somewhat more frequent
and the variety of verbal tics has increased.
M y main question: Have you ever seen a TS case
where the person has developed a tumour in the
speech center? Is there any correlation, in
your opinion? Thank you for hearing me out.
My sister....beyond the tics is a kind, generous
person. Blessings, H.G., ON, Canada.
Response
Question
35: Dr. Duncan, I am a 35 year old
male professional with TS. I have been ticking
like crazy all summer due to the stress of buying
a house, moving, renovating and starting a new
job. I click my throat so much that it hurts
at night when I go to bed and I am afraid I
am going to damage my larynx or vocal cords.
I am not taking medication as my condition is
not that severe, but are there any herbs or
foods that can alieve my ticking, or anything
can can bring my stress level down? J.S., NB,
Canada
Dear
Dr. Dunc,
I read from some sources that environmental
factors can magnify TS symptoms. What are considered
environmental factors? How can I help my 61/2
year old to form a good environment for him
to help him control his tics. Does it mean that
as his mom I may have may his tics worse? I
am having a very hard time coming to grips with
his TS and tics. Please help!!!!!! G.W., ON,
Canada
Response
Question
30: It is not uncommon for TS children
(even adults) to be sexually inappropriate,
perhaps intrusive and not complying with the
cultural/societal norms. How does one address
this in an in-service since the question has
popped up? More importantly, how does one handle
this behaviour to extinguish it? With some young
children it seems to extinguish fairly quickly
with talking and substitution training for in
public. For others whom are at the age when
this can be viewed as deviant, criminal behaviour--Young
Offenders 12+ and age of sexual consent 14 years--what
suggestions for working with these young people.
Some of them are hypersexual....so some management
issues need to be addressed. K.T., BC, Canada.
Response
Question
22: My son is 5yrs old and he blinks
or squints his eyes very fast several times
in a row constantly. He also clears his throat
and twitches his nose when he is doing the eye
thing. Also he always has a spot on top of his
head where the hair is broken off from him pulling
and twisting it in his fingers. I really haven'
t been able to determine a pattern for all of
these things because he does it so often, but
I do think he seems to do it more when he is
tired, nervous or upset. Could this be TS?
Also
I think that it may be worth mentioning that
the day that the eye blinking first occured....one
of the children had hit him in the head with
a toy gun....We went and picked him up and went
to the eye doctor, thinking that he could have
scratched his eye. They couldn't find anything
wrong with his eye. The next day I took him
to his pediatrician because he was still blinking
and he did have a visable but not significannt
place on his head behind his ear. Once again
I was told that he was fine and to use visine....Now
it is about two years later and he is still
twitching and has added nose twithing, head
to shoulder motions and he pulls his hair....could
a trauma produce or mimic the symptoms of TS?
Tennessee, USA.
Response
Question
14: What do you know about the Asthsma/coughing
tic? [My son] has had a horrible cough for the
last week, was dx with asthsma long before TS
but am hearing things about it as a tic now.
Matt has no weezing currently (at the moment)
but is constantly coughing and the inhaler doesnt
work. I know you're busy so I'll understand
if you can't respond and won't be upset. R.S.,
MO, USA
Response
Question
4: Robbie is having trouble with his
eyes rolling up into his head It was happening
allot when he was on nine pills of orap.Then
we cut him back to two pills a day and they
gradually got better. One of the side effects
of orap is unusual eye movement.Robbie feels
that the orap is causing this in his eyes and
he want's to drop down to 1pill aday.we are
letting him try that. We wanted to know if his
sinus allergy could play a part in this. Robbie
has sinus allergy and is on Flonase nose spray.
When his eyes are bothering him can go to bed
for awhile and they get better. It seems the
last two weeks he has been over at a friends
house on the weekend and he is allergic to carpet
which makes his sinus bad and by monday night
his eyes are bothering him. If you have any
suggestions we would like that. L.M., Prince
Edward Island, CA
Response
Question
1: Duncan when i get done playing my
nintendo 64 games my tourettes comes out strong
why is that? My Dad thinks my tourettes comes
out becaues i focus on my games to much.Is my
Dad right? D.P.,Texas, USA
Response
