Varying degrees of tourettes syndrome?

Question

Just wondered if someone could have tourettes but be able to mostly controll thier impulses untill they get over tired, cross or excited? And can outbursts be whatevers in your head, not repeated sounds ticks or phrases/words. My kid constantly sound makes while hes busy playing with easy stuff, bored, and excited. Some times stuff pops out and he looks slightly bemused and apologises. He's also developed a high pitched shriek thats been carrying on for quite a few months now, and just comes out randomly! Other times he just seems to be having fun and letting everything in his head out!

????/ he's ten and always done this.

school think ADHD, I've suspected aspergers for a while, but always wondered about mild tourettes if their is such a thing?

Got a date for assesment soon.

Answer 1

Yes, tics can vary, from simple to complex (that's the technical term).  Usually, people with TS start with motor tics, and then progress to verbal ones.  And what do repetitive motor movements look like?  Yep, Autism.  TS can have other issues with it (comorbidity is the fancy name for that)- I've seen them have compulsive eating disorders (Pica) as well as ADHD, anxiety, and depression.  So working toward an appropriate diagnosis is important.  You probably already know this, but Ritalin can stimulate tics in some TS kids.  That's how some I've worked with discovered they actually had Tourette's rather than ADHD.   The good news is TS kids tend to be very bright, often with IQs in the gifted range and can be very creative.

Answer 2

Tourettes is a spectrum disorder and cases can range from mild to severe.  My Son has a moderate case.  He used to have a vocal tremor (tic) that  was like a high pitched squeak.  Glad that one is over!  Tics are migratory and they change often.

Please take your child to a Pediatric Neurologist.  Tourettes is a Neurological disorder.  Well meaning teachers, principals, school nurses, counselors and others (including myself) are not qualified to diagnose this complex disorder.

Above all, don't worry.  Having a child with Tourettes is not the worst thing in the world.  My son is smart (I'll bet your son is bright, too), sweet, loving and just an all around great kid!  I would not trade him for the world.

Best wishes for a good outcome.

Answer 3

Lots of mild TS in my family, including me. Your description of when he makes sounds fits perfectly with TS, and my own experience with it..  ADHD often goes with Tourette's, unfortunately. There is a good website.

www.tsa-usa.org that can answer your questions.

LIke any other illness/syndrome, there is a wide range of severity for TS, from very mild/barely noticeable to other, to full-blown TS.

Good luck.