Question

"Tourette syndrome is more a disorder of the onlooker than the patient." Discuss.

Answer 1

Tourette syndrome is related to the nervous system, it is a highly complex syndrome it involves parts of the brain and electric circuits that connect them. The abnormality may present in the basal ganglia, the part of the brain that controls motor movements. The disorder usually starts between the age of 3 to 9 it starts with the neck and head muscle, followed by other tics. Tics are that involuntary uncontrollable movement or sound that deviates from persons normal gestures. For example, the person may blink continuously without any irritation in the eyes.

It differs from person to person; some people may clear their throat again and again, or blurt something which they do not intend to say. All these are due to chemicals in the brain known as neurotransmitters. The actual cause is still unknown; the researchers believe it can be inherited genetic defect.

The research shows that approximately 6 to 10 % of school going children suffers from this disease. Children suffering from this disease show lack of friendship as the involuntary movements are disruptive in nature the social life affect very much, the involuntary movements and vocalizations that are forceful and complex affect the social life, there will be very few friends and the child can be targeted by his peer group. This adverse condition puts his moral down. The child may suffer from upsetting comments from the passerby in public places or teased or excluded by their peers because of noticeable tics.

The boys are more affected by this abnormality than girls, it becomes milder with age or sometimes it disappears too but not in all the cases.

The peer group social group and support from family plays an important role. Close friendship buffers the problems; it can improve overcoming the disability and improve self-efficacy and belief in his abilities.

The problem is with onlookers because they do not know that it is a form of mental disorder and the person suffering have no control over it, but it may put the onlooker in an awkward situation like getting winked or teased, or involuntary vocalization makes them irritable and angry, a misunderstanding can arise due to the uncommon behavior. This involuntary actions and sounds resemble teasing thus make an onlooker uncomfortable, this problem of onlooker on the basis that he is ignorant about others disability cannot be blamed. The person suffering does come under uncomfortable position because it can give rise to unnecessary misunderstanding but he is helpless.