Wednesday,
January 30, 2002: Doctor Duncan McKinlay's childhood
problem has now become his biggest asset. He has Tourette's Syndrome.
In
his case, it causes barks, head jerking and hopping. It's alarming
at first, but Duncan's confidence quickly wins people over. It hasn't
always been like this, though.
"There
was no one in town to diagnose it. My family doctor dismissed it,
and said Aw that's Duncan, and my parents didn't believe me. They
thought I was looking for excuses for all the trouble I was getting
in," he recalls.
Dr.
McKinlay is completing an internship at the Bloorview Macmillan Rehabilitation
Centre, working with children with brain injuries, not Tourette's.
It's part of his required clinical experience to become a psychologist.
It also gives the kids and their parents a chance to get to know someone
with Tourette's.
"With
this disorder, it's the lack of education, the lack of awareness,
it's the assumptions made about, and the reactions to it that do far
more damage than the symptoms ever could."
Tourettes
syndrome is an inherited neurological disorder that effects nearly
one in every thousand [sic] kids. Ninety-six per cent of cases are
diagnosed by age 11.
The
disorder can cause involuntary physical and phonic tics, ranging from
barking and whistling, to head nods and shakes.
Duncan
says his Tourette's is a non-issue when it comes to his work. He is
able to suppress the tics while assessing patients. However, on occasion,
a child or parent will notice.
"It's
not surprising that people jump and react, and are taken back or laugh,
or whatever they do, it doesn't make them a bad person. It just means
that most people aren't born with a file in their head that says ways
to react when someone barks at me."
While
some people in his situation would avoid the spotlight, Dr. McKinlay
seeks out opportunities to speak publicly, to educate people about
Tourette's Syndrome.
"I
think that every time I am doing a presentation, and i see a light
bulb go off in someone else, a teacher's eye like this, and I know
that some kids life just got a whole lot better. It's a bit of vicarious
self healing."
To
learn more about Tourette's Syndrome, visit Dr. McKinlay's website.
In
Ontario, watch Health Matters weekdays on Global News at 5:30. E-mail
Christine Crosbie with your
questions and comments. For more stories, click here.
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Copyright 2002 Global Television
