Children with Gilles de la Tourette Syndrome at School

Abstract

Gilles de la Tourette syndrome is a neuro-developmental disorder characterized by the presence of multiple kinetic and vocal tics. Tics are sudden, rapid, repetitive, pointless, arrhythmic, stereotyped kinetic or vocal muscle twitches. It usually occurs before puberty and it is more often in boys than in girls, at a rate 4-6 / 1000. Although it doesn't affect the physical health of the patient, it creates several social problems. Most of the children who deal with Tourette syndrome have normal intelligence and brain anatomy. Purpose: this study is the early identification of children who are suffering with Tourette syndrome as a result of their clinical assessment and information of children and their families in an effort to understand the nature of this syndrome.Method:an extensive search for articles and publications in Greek and international literature was performed. Furthermore, search performed also in the electronic databases "pubmed" and "cinahl". Results: Depending on the severity of convulsive movements and if learning difficulties are present or not, the suffering student may face serious problems in school that may affect his performance. A coordinated effort by health professionals, parents and teachers who are addressing them can prevent the devastating consequences of the syndrome in childhood and later in adult life.It is helpful for the teacher to be aware of the syndrome and to encourage children that are suffering by the syndrome, to courses and protect them from being teased by their classmates. Conclusions: Parents should inform teachers about the syndrome and teachers in turn should encourage the child in his courses and protect it so in an effort to avoid isolation or aggression. Those children are usually able to attend an ordinary school unless there is a coexistence of learning disabilities or Attention-Deficit Disorder then special handling by the teacher is needed as well as tolerance, patience, and the assessment of the student should be under indulgence always in collaboration with parents and a child psychiatrist .