CAMPUS TOUR: 2ND EXPOSURE

UPDATED: The exact venue of the forum on June 7 Sat is at Movement Disorder Center 4th Floor, Annex III St. Lukes Medical Center, forum will start at exactly 9 am. Thank you!

Greetings to everybody!

I am inviting everyone to come and join us in our 2nd of the Campus Tour series of the Philippine Tourette Syndrome Association at St. Lukes Medical Center on June7, Saturday, 9:00 am. There will be presentations regarding the profile of the organization, presentation on Tourette Syndrome as a disorder, there will be workshops for individuals diagnosed with TS as they will be interviewed and assessed for profiling of individuals diagnosed with the disorder in the Philippines. And there will also be group gathering for sharing. Lunch will be served. This event holds a registration fee of only 150 pesos.

For those who are interested to be members of the organization, you can download the forms, fill it up and return it back via email. Please note that this will not be processed unless your payment is recieved. We offer two kinds of memberships. Individual membership fee is 150 pesos and we also have a Family membership fee for only 300. When payment and accomplished forms are recieved,we will send you your Membership ID card via post mail. Discounts and Freebies will be given to members for future activities.

We look forward to see you at the venue.

1st Campus Tour Exposure: Sunday Forum

This was the first of the campus tour project of the Philippine Tourette Syndrome Association. It was held in a private residential house in Quezon City. Mr. Marlon Barnuevo (co-founder, vice president) presented the organization profile and Ms. Rowena Balmores- Victorino (co-founder, president) presented a short review about Tourette Syndrome as a disorder. There were parents, children, adolescents and adults diagnosed with the disorder, there were also other lay persons who were interested to join the forum. Registrations were also held at the venue to formally make those who were present members of the organizations. Interactions among the members were given time to share their life experiences and struggles with TS. A few group snapshots and a tastefull snack completed the event.

PTSA Announcement

The Philippine Tourette Syndrome Association will hold its meeting on MAY 18, 3:00 PM at a private residential venue. Everybody is encouraged to join! To know the venue, please text 0906.4960921 This will be the chance for you to register to be able to join the organization. Meet other individuals diagnosed and their family and friends. Come join us on Sunday...it'll be worth it! We'll see you!

Tourette Syndrome on IWitness: "May T.S. Kami"

Tourette Syndrome on Emergency

Tourette Syndrome on RXMen

Sources of Impairment for TS Individuals

It is very difficult for the individual to be understood most of the time because of behaviors they are not intending to do but causes trouble in most cases. Because of this, the family needs to be educated and needs to provide further support and understanding for individuals who are afflicted with the disorder.

For individuals who are diagnosed with TS plus Associated Behavioral Problems specifically ADHD, poor impulse control, inattention, and explosive behavior are common problems. For poor impulse control the common behaviors are social failure, disruptive and aggression. Because of this, in some cases, individuals who are manifesting these specific behaviors are casted as "troublemakers". For inattention problems, school failure is a common scenario. Finally, in explosive behaviors, the family is definitely strained. And according to Dr. Scahill, this is most common in the home rather than in school.

For individuals diagnosed with TS plus Obsessive- Compulsive Disorder or symptoms of OCD, anxiety comes in. More often that not, there's social failure because they tend to avoid social interactions or engagements. They also become disruptive if prevented from doing the ritualized behavior. NAGGING them will not do any good. Inattention is also common for individuals with TS+OCD which can lead to school failure because they are often distracted by worries and rituals. And finally, explosive behavior problems are also evident.

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Reference: Scahill, 2008

Updates on Tourette Syndrome, 2008 Data

At this point, information from different mediums have already made it clear that Tourette Syndrome is a neurological disorder characterized by motor and vocal tics. As a review, it is very evident that the disorder displays a pattern of many different motor and phonic symptoms. But at this point, it is of utmost importance to understand that there is no diagnostic tests for TS. Effective diagnosis is based on HISTORY and OBSERVATION. For parents or guardians especially the individual himself, history and observation are two very important considerations. Tracking back the symptoms and observing its frequency and severity will make it easier for the doctor to diagnose the disorder. According to Dr. Scahill, you need to:

LISTEN

WATCH

LISTEN

Another important point is that "swearing is not required for diagnosis". The prevalence of TS is influenced by diagnostic threshold. Moreover, moderate to severe TS affects 1 to 6 per 1000 in school- age children. The onset of the disorder is again in childhood with motor tics coming in before the vocal symptoms specifically 5-7 years and 7-9 years respectively. By age 10, the urge to initiate the movement is already very evident, this is what we also call the premonitory sensations. Individuals with TS can suppress the tics, however, only up to a limited degree. It is also expected that tics tend to decline with age. If it doesn't, there needs to be a lifestyle check and again the importance of history and observation comes to the picture.

It is already proven that Tourette Syndrome can really debilitate the person. The impairment is dependent on the classification of the disorder meaning whether it be mild, moderate or severe. If mild, you can expect minimal interference. But if the disorder is classified as moderate or severe it may already be bothersome because of the urge, the suppressing tics and frustration. It may also interfere with daily activities which can also be a reason for their frustration. And it may already be noticeable which causes some teasing, bullying, and in most severe cases--social isolation.

TS IS NOT JUST TICS. Individuals diagnosed with the disorder may also exhibit impulsiveness, distractibility, hyperactivity, oppositional and defiant behavior, repetitive behaviors, low frustration tolerance and explosive outbursts, anxiety and depressed mood and learning problems.

In the clinical picture:

50%- 66% of children with TS have ADHD

50% have Obsessive- Compulsive symptoms

30% have Obsessive- Compulsive Disorder

It follows that if the individual is diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome plus any of the two co-morbidity (OCD or ADHD), the impairment is GREATER.

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The article above was written by the author based on the presentation made by Lawrence Scahill, MSN,Ph.D. in the TSA National Conference in USA, 2008 entitled "Tourette Syndrome Workshop: Parent Training"

Update on the TSA National Conference in USA

As part of the update of the previous TSA National Conference held in USA, the ff. are the presentations of the speakers:

• Behavioral Sciences Consortium: A TSA Success Story
• Latest Treatments and Related Issues for Tourette Syndrome and Co- Morbid Disorders
• Impulse Control and Anger Issues of Children, Adolescents and Adults with TS
• Aggressive Symptoms in Children with Tourette Syndrome
• Aggressive Symptoms in Adults with Tourette Syndrome
• Behavioral Treatment for Tics

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TSA-USA.ORG

IWitness Shooting on Tourette Syndrome Documentary