Book Description
When first published, this guide for parents of children and teens with Tourette syndrome (TS) was the only book to offer up-to-date information and advice for families. Now in an updated edition, Children with Tourette Syndrome offers even more. There's new information on the latest research and medical developments in the field, and sections on education, legal rights, family life, daily care, and emotional issues are thoroughly revised.

Written by leading experts in the field and experienced parents, this guide provides an excellent blend of professional expertise and empathetic advice. Families with newly diagnosed children find answers to their most pressing questions about this often perplexing neurological disorder, as well as coping strategies and emotional support.

The second edition includes new information about the effects of Tourette syndrome at different stages of development from childhood into adulthood.There's more on coexisting conditions such as obsessive-compulsive disorder, Asperger syndrome, and learning disabilities. The book also provides an overview of the biochemistry of TS, what to expect from a medical workup, as well as a discussion of more than 30 different drugs used to treat TS and related conditions. There are strategies for coping with many of the challenging characteristics of TS such as impulsivity, obsessive thoughts, attention and sleep problems, and difficulties with sensory integration. A new chapter on Habit Reversal Training (HRT) explains how this behavior intervention can help some people control tics. Parents find the latest on special education rights, and expanded information on how to design an appropriate education plan for their child.

For families raising a child with TS, this comprehensive handbook gives them hope and relieves their sense of isolation. It's also essential reading for professionals and teachers who need to understand this complex disorder. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Easy to understand, comprehensive, helpful!
I initially checked out this book from the library to learn more about the disability we suspected our son has.Because I was so impressed with it, I bought the book.It is an excellent source of information on TS (Tourette Syndrome), along with other related conditions, both for parents of children who have been diagnosed with TS or parents who simply suspect their child may have TS.She educates parents on how to go about getting an accurate and comprehensive evaluation for their child, information on dealing with the challenges of TS, and being an advocate for the child with TS.

Children with Tourette Syndrome: A Parent's Guide
This book is an excellent resource for parents whose child has Tourette's. It explains the disease, treatment, interventions, resources, and so forth. Excellent and easy to read. Great resource also for those with ADHD, especially since ADHD and Tourette Syndrome sometimes go hand in hand. I highly recommend it both as a grandparent of a child with both Tourette's and ADHD, and as a health professional!

Excellent Resource For Parents
My son has Tourettes. This was the first book that I bought when he was diagnosed and I found it to be invaluable. It is a great resource for the parents of the newly diagnosed or even those who have been dealing with it for some time. The book lets you know what to expect and how to cope. A must have for anyone dealing with a special needs child with this disorder.

Jam Packed Guide for Parents and Professionals
This is a compact little guide is packed with useful information both for parents and professionals.It is not cluttered with long narratives of people's "personal stories".While there is definitely a place for that approach, I needed a quick primer that would easily acquaint me with the full range of difficulties faced by a child with Tourette Syndrome as well as those faced by her parents. As a clinican, I needed to arm myself in a hurry with an understanding of the essential issues relevant to this population in order to manage a school crisis. It gave me everything I needed to effectively advocate for my young client and her parents.

It is a quick read, informative and clear.The book humanizes TS and provides basic information about etiology, development, and treatment, medication, symptom management, and guidlines on how to interact with school staff.Suggestions for designing an effective educational plans,advocacy strategies, and a basic description of legal rights are also included.

I recommend this book without hesitation.

Very informative, enormously helpful, with great advice
My 8-year-old son has ADHD, OCD and tic disorders (though not full-blown Tourette Syndrome).This book was an enormous help for me in understanding the tic disorder and also the ADHD and OCD which often co-occur with TS and tic disorders.It is written in a very easy to read, friendly, compassionate way.There is a lot of clear advice here.TS is complex and often misunderstood.The book helps you cope with and understand many of the related problems.It teaches acceptance, dealing with friends, relatives, schools, etc.It is a very thorough book.After reading it, I felt less helpless and more empowered to deal with these issues.The book talks about the importance of acknowledging your child's frustrations and feelings, which will help him to learn to share them more directly with you.For example, saying, "I know you're trying really hard, and it's frustrating when the other students can't seem to understand that you can't stop doing certain things."This book helps you to also empower your child, and to embrace what is special about him.It says, "If you believe in your child as an individual whose Tourette syndrome is only one aspect of her total being, your child will also be more likely to see herself as someone with abilities, rather than disabilities."I strongly recommend this book.It will help. ... Read more

Book Description
Gilles de la Tourette Syndrome (or Tourette's Syndrome), is an inherited neuropsychiatric disorder affecting about 5 people in every 10,000.It is characterised by motor and vocal tics, and upsetting anti-social behaviour such as involuntary swearing and obscene gestures.This book, written by a psychologist and a psychiatrist who have been researching Tourette's Syndrome for many years, explains the causes of the syndrome, how it is diagnosed, and the ways in which it can be treated.Essential reading for Tourette's sufferers, their relatives and friends, Tourette's Syndrome: The Facts will also be of use to clinicians, GPs, schoolteachers, and anyone seeking an accessible introduction to the disorder. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

A review of "The Facts"
I used this book to help me in writing a paper for one of my psychology classes at a university.It was very useful in helping me decipher a lotof the medical terms that are associated with the syndrome, and also toclear up many of the myths regarding Tourette's Syndrome.It explained thecause, symptoms, treatment and family issues in a way that was very easy tounderstand.This book would be very helpful to someone who knows a personwith Tourette's Syndrome in the understanding of their disease.There is alot of good information, and also resources to point you in the directionof other research.I learned several things by reading this book, but Ithink that the most important thing that this book offers is that it clearsup the myths and stereotypes that afflict people with this syndrome.Iwould highly recommend "The Facts".

tourette syndromethe facts
An ideal 1st book for those who have recently been diagnosed, and for family and friends.This is easily digested,but has not been "dumbed down".Written in a positive way it contaians some sensible adviceabout coping with TS in the real world.Written by 2 of Englands topspecialists in Tourette Syndrome ,it is a book that gives you theconfidence to question the doctors,and answer those posed by people whowant to know more about your problrms.The extensive bibliography gives manyleads for anyone wanting a more indepth understanding of the syndrome,andthe suggested "introduction card" deserves a special credit ofits own.This is a book I would recommend to who is interested in thesyndrome,at any level. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

Tourettes for kids
This book was a great summary of the progression of Tourette's in kids, for kids.

wonderful Book!
I am a social worker as well as a mother of a child just diagnosed with Tourette's. This book was wonderful! My son has been trying to understand what is going on with him and this book was very useful. It explains Tourette's to the child as well as the adule. One thing I loved about the book is it shows the boy in the story having new tics. This allows for readers to understand that tics change as well as showing many types of tics. One example was the boy in the story began to spit, a tic my son has and gets made fun of for. My son's face lit up and he felt less "weird". My son and I are going to do a presentation at his summer camp so others understand why he does what he does, I will be including this book.

I can't Stop
This was an excellent book and well worth the money.It is easy to read, hard cover, with great pictures.We bought this to explain to our son (9) who has TS and also to his younger brother (6).The book is written as a child telling the story of how and why he was diagnosed, his fears of explaining to friends and finally acceptance.It was great to read with my boys as they could relate to so much of the story.It was also helpful that my son realised he wasn't alone and that if they could write a book about the way things happened, then others went the same way.We even had similar tics (not all) which helped. We have also used it to try and explain to other family members what we have been going through.

fantastic book
This book is a must for anyone who has or knows of a child with Tourette's Syndrome.My 8 yr old son, who has Tourette's, brought in the book to his 2nd grade class.His teacher read it aloud and then the class asked my son questions.The book went a long way in helping overcome the social obstacles that a child with Tourette's will surely face, and clearly explains that some behaviors are truely out of the child's control and why.I would recommend this book highly for children, parents and teachers alike!

Inclusive Overview
This book is perfect for introducing TS to anyone new to the diagnosis.It normalizes the typical experiences which precede and follow the diagnosis.I have used it for peer education in a classroom setting, as well as for individual youngsters (& their families). ... Read more

Book Description
Living with Tourette's syndrome presents solid information on coping with all aspects of the disease from diagnosis to treatment and includes practical information on dealing with particular issues that can arise at school and work. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Truly the BEST book I have read about tourettes
This book was a lifesaver for me since my son was recently diagnosed with Tourettes. I bought several books, and this one is my absolute favorite & I highly recommend it!

Excellent read
This is a must read for people trying to understand Tourette's.It is an easy to read and understand book for people with little knowledge of the syndrome. The author shares her personal experience as well as facts about meds, treatment, symptoms, misdiagnosis, and learning to live with it.
Very informative. A lot is packed into this one book.
Highly recommended for people that either have TS or have a family member with it.

helpful
i plan to become a special ed teacher to work with tourettes kids and other this was a very infortive book. i liked thAT THE AUTHOR HAD EXPIERNCE WITith tourette and was not just someone that had reasearch it and then wrote a book.

Helpful for parents or adults w/ TS
Miles from NY is mistaken when he says the author has 3 kids w/ TS, but doesn't have it herself. She does and mentions that in the beginning of the book. Because of her experience in having TS and then having children with it, she is helpful to walk readers through what to expect and how to head off problems before they exist. She also has a great deal of info for adults with TS...to tell or not tell at job interviews, socializing, and even living situations. A caring and careful job of communication on the issues facing those with TS or TS in their families.

Careful with this one
There are many helpful items in this book.But my one complaint is it is written by the mother of touretters.She is not a sufferer herself.Shimberg strays from the subject all too often and much of the book reads like a parent's manual for rearing any type of child.I am glad I read this book as a sufferer of tourrette syndrome but one must be aware that it is geared toward parents and teachers, not adults living with tourette syndrome. ... Read more

Book Description
This essential guide to tic disorders and Tourette Syndrome tackles problems faced both at home and at school, such as adjusting to the diagnosis, the effect on siblings and classroom difficulties. Dr. Chowdhury offers advice on how to manage symptoms, describing psychological techniques such as habit reversal and massed practice and reviewing available medical treatments. In clear, accessible language, this book explains the clinical signs and symptoms of Tourette and related conditions, and their possible causes. Presenting practical strategies for dealing with associated difficulties, including low self-esteem, anger-management and bullying, this book will be invaluable to parents, teachers, social workers other professionals. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Extremely useful
This is by far the most useful book I have read on Tourette Syndrome, as well as one of the best books I have read on special needs in general."Tics and Tourette Syndrome" is short enough and concise enough that an overwhelmed parent can read it in one sitting.Do not be fooled by the book's length, however.Word for word, this book contains more useful information than any other book I have read; there is no filler, there are no anecdotes.

If you have time for only one book on Tourette's, this is the book.That is a very tired line, I know, but in this case it really is true.I have recommended this book to other parents of children with Tourette's as well as to friends and relatives, in an effort to dispel misconceptions about what Tourette's is and is not.

A general guide
This book is good for general information. Give you all the topics about Tourette Syndrome. It's excellent for parents and professionals that are beginning reader about TS. Help you a lot to begin to understand all concerning with the Tourette Syndrome. ... Read more

Book Description

Book Description
Dylan Peters has lived with Tourette Syndrome more than halfof his young life. Only four years old when he was first diagnosed with TS,Dylan is now nine and ready to enter the fourth grade.What he's learnedabout tolerance and acceptance during those five years, most of us fail tolearn in an entire lifetime. In his own words--often humorous, alwaysinsightful--Dylan helps others, young and old, understand Tourette Syndromeand the enormous pressures this little, mysterious affliction places onthose who have it and on those who love them. Illustrated by Dylan'sfriend, Zachary Wendland. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

A book any child with TS can relate to
This is a really excellent book.My 7 year old daughter has TS and for the first time is understanding she is not alone.She is starting to become worried what others will think of her Tourette's and I know that Dylan's story will help her tremendously.I am going to share it with her teacher and maybe share it with the classroom, as Dylan did in the story showing his amazing courage.This book will help children accept the differences in others.

Thank you Dylan and God Bless!!

Highly recommended picturebook for school libraries and for teaching young people everywhere about Tourette Syndrome.
Written by a 9-year-old boy who was diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome at age 4, Tic Talk: Living with Tourette Syndrome tells young Dylan Peters' story about day-to-day life with Tourette Syndrome in his own words. Simple, colorful illustrations by Dylan's best friend Zachary Wendland drive home this straightforward, tell-it-like-it-is story. "TS causes uncontrollable body movements or sometimes repeating words, sounds, or phrases over and over. These are called tics. The biggest bummer about having tics is that you can't make them stop no matter how hard you try, and believe me I have tried! It's like your brain has a mission to annoy you and make everyone around you notice these bizarre actions." A set of ten successful strategies for working with children with Tourette Syndrome and a list of additional resources round out this highly recommended picturebook for school libraries and for teaching young people everywhere about Tourette Syndrome.

Cedar Creek Elementary Review
I had a great time listening to your story it was fascinating.
I really recommend this book to anyone! I learned alot about TS.
I thought he was brave to go to school.
I learned a lot about teasing and kindness.
I liked your book, it teaches a very important lesson about acceptance.
I think it is a good thing to share your problems with your friends and teachers. True friends like you for who you are.
Mrs. Cochran's second class
Mrs Giebler-Counselor

Touching lesson for kids and adults
This story more than just explains TS, which it does well.It is an honest account of a child's journey to find courage, a lesson that applies to all of us regardless of age or obstacles.Rewarding read! ... Read more

Product Description
For decades, finding information on alternative treatments for tics has been next to impossible. There’s a widespread desire to avoid conventional drugs, yet people have not known where to turn to find safer therapies.This situation took a sharp turn when a group of cutting-edge doctors and determined families started reporting dramatic success in treating tics naturally. Sheila J. Rogers, director of the nonprofit Association for Comprehensive NeuroTherapy (ACN), began investigating these reports and sharing them through the organization.Rogers conducted countless interviews with patients, professionals, and families, and ACN sponsored a large-scale survey that resulted in exciting, new details on the causes of tics. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (12)

Excellent Book
This book is terrific. I cannot say enough good things about it. I highly recommend it!

Sheila J. Rogers Has Opened Doors of HOPE!
Tics and Tourette's: Breakthrough Discoveries in Natural Treatments

As a concert-pianist, music therapist, author, and an individual living with Tourette Syndrome, I must "take my hat off" to Sheila Rogers for bringing together a cascade of knowledge by various doctors, pediatric neurologists,
authors and many other leading authorities. As there is no cure for Tourette Syndrome, parents, families and adults are desperately seeking out new innovations and ideas with the hope that somewhere a new approach/approaches will come to the forefront. This book offers exactly what so many have been looking for, thought provoking ideas without the side-effects of medication, approaches that
are natural and display underlying common sense!
Since reading the book, I have followed many of the innovative ideas and have found improvement in my own tics.
As a music therapist, which is also a natural, non side effect technique, I have incorporated the many findings in this book with my own student's!

BRAVO! SHEILA J. ROGERS!, what will you come up with next!

Author: Raymond Vacchino M.Mus.(Per) M.Mus.(MT) A.Mus. Licentiate, L.R.S.M.

Must read for those with children with tics!!
This book is eye-opening and thought-provoking.Just consider the possibility of your child being tic-free or at least know you might have the chance of reducing the incidence of tics without medication. Get this book, and share it with others.

Excellent Overview of Tic Disorders and Natural Alternative Treatment Options
This was an informative book.There certainly is hope for those suffering from these disorders that doesn't necessarily have to involve dangerous drugs.I am a candidate for a doctorate as a Naturopath and will use this in my resource library.The question to always ask is what is my body/mind trying to tell me with regard to my symptoms.This book will guide you to look at the symptoms and ask those questions.It will also help you begin your journey by suggesting various avenues to explore.It leaves the reader with a sense of hope for successfully treating the root causes naturally.Treatment can be multi-faceted, often like putting together a puzzle.The end result makes it worth all the time and energy spent.Hope is something soarly lacking in most medical resources for these disorders, that makes this book all the more valuable.

This is a MUST HAVE resource!
After a diagnosis of Tourettes Syndrome a few month ago, and hearing that my 12 year old would "grow out of it" from the medical community, I decided to investigate on my own.My son also has eczema, allergies (environmental and food) and asthma.Being on too much medicine already for a child (in my opinion), another prescription was out of the question.This book is a God-send! I see our situation throughout the book, and Sheila J. Rogers has written in a way that is easy to understand.She provides hope and practical information that I have already put into action (and I'm only half way through the book!).The book does not demean the medical community, but offers an alternative to us who refuse to believe that this is how our loved one has to be.The advice in this book is sound commonsense from reputable sources backed by experience from families of children with TS.I highly recommned this book as a vital key in helping your loved one.Whether your loved one is newly diagnosed, on medication, or you just suspect there is something "wrong"... you need this book! ... Read more

Book Description

Customer Reviews (2)

Bravo for Busy Body
Busy Body:My Life with Tourette's Syndrome by Nick van Bloss is the most powerful and touching TS autobiography I have ever read.His descriptions for this very challenging condition are quite clear, revealing and help the reader get an idea of what it may be like to go through this ordeal day after day after day.TS is such an unusual disorder.Sure there are more painful and more life threatening conditions (I don't mean to dismiss any other disorder as "not difficult"), but TS is unusual and particularly difficult because you often have no choice but to let everyone know that "something is wrong."TS "tries" to break every social convention and rule."It is astounding how many social situations require silence or general quietness - most every classroom situation, movies, waiting in line, traveling in a public setting, shopping, theatre, etc.Until you experience TS (yourself or with a family member or friend), you have no idea how much of our society requires participants to "not make a scene" and "stay reasonably quiet."This book was difficult for me to read because I have a son with a pretty strong case of TS.I noticed many connections between Nick and my son.It helped me develop a better understanding of what my son is going through. I really don't think most people understand how painful TS can be and Nick pointed this out pretty clearly.He didn't elaborate too much on this point and based on my son's experiences, I know that Nick must be dealing with pain all the time and is actually pretty heroic about it.Although it was painful, I found this to be the most uplifting book on TS I have ever read.It reinforced teh idea that a TS sufferer can live a pretty good life and that many gifts may be associated with the condition.Nick is also a VERY humble human being who is compassionate, intelligent, sensitive and perceptive, not to mention his incredible sense of dedication and perseverance.This book is worth the read just to know him as a human being, whether he had TS or not.I only hope that this book is read by a great number of people.If anyone knows how I could e-mail or write to him, please let me know.

Very good book-
I heard about this book on a TS webboard and decided to order it.I was not sorry I did.It is an excellent book and he really portrays what it is like to have TS in a candid, funny way.I recommend this to anyone who has TS or would like to know what it is like to have it. ... Read more

Book Description
Tourette's syndrome is a neurological disorder usuallydiagnosed in childhood. It is characterized by tics:physical jerks and involuntary vocalizations. Somepeople with Tourette's also have other brain-based disorders, particularly attention deficit hyperactivity disorder(ADHD) or obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Tourette's syndrome can be a minor challenge or a trulydevastating disability. People with Tourette's often experienceanxiety, embarrassment, sometimes even harassment. Their symptomscan prevent them from having a normal childhood, buildinggood relationships, achieving their best in school, or finding menaingful employment. The effects of this disruption can bepainful and lifelong. The good news is that Tourette's is very treatable andsometimes subsides with age. With prompt, consistent intervention, most people with Tourette's can wrestback control of their lives. Tourette's Syndrome helps you:

• Secure an accurate and complete diagnosis
• Live with Tourette's in the family: using effective parenting techniques, building support systems
• Understand medical interventions
• Obtain appropriate medical care from an existing health plan
• Deal with Tourette's in the community and workplace
• Navigate the education system
• Find resources

Customer Reviews (1)

Good overview with lots of information
My son starting displaying tics, so I went to the library in
search of information.This book looked good, so I took it
home and read it.I found it very readable and informative.
I believe the author is not a medical expert, which normally
would make me skeptical of the information, but in this case
the book seems very well researched and reasonable.I like it.
The text includes frequent quotes from people with TS, their
parents, and others, which I found helpful and reassuring.
I haven't read enough TS books to really say how this
one compares to others, but I don't think anyone who buys
this book will be disappointed.

FYI, after reading this book, I was convinced my son did
in fact have Tourettes, so I took him to a neurologist, and
it was confirmed.I felt the book had prepared me well for
everything the neurologist told me. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Better suited for older children.
I was looking for a book explaining Tourettes to a 6 yr old and , although this book is well written, it is better souited for older children.

To explainthe kids
This book give you the words to explain the child with Tourette Syndrome what's going on with him/her. It's a complete and easy book to read that explain everything about TS and the most important how to communicate the child in a natural way, what is the Tourette Syndrome and what expect about it. ... Read more

Book Description
Once thought to be rare, Tourette's Syndrome is now seen as a relatively common childhood disorder either in its complete or partial incarnations. Drawing on the work of contributors hailing from the prestigeous Yale University Child Psychiatry Department, this edited volume explores the disorder from many persepctives, mapping out the diagnosis, genetics, phenomenology, natural history, and treatment of Tourette's Syndrome. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Leckman and book is right on.
I bought this book after I found it mentioned in several posts and chat rooms for Tourette's Syndrome.

James Leckman and his book are held in high regard by the TS community.

If you are looking for an approach to the problem that doesn't involve drugs, look here, it is covered.There are techniques and methods explained, such as Habit Reversal, that have been validated as working for TS; validated over a long time. The method was originated in 1973 by Azrin. ....

Excellent resource to have in your reference library
Even if you work with only one or two children with Tourette's Syndrome, this compilation of over 25 years of research results with a client base of thousands is an excellent resource to have in your reference library. Thedocumentation of multidisciplinary contributions makes it convenient toexplore concepts further without having to search through a wide variety ofprofessional journals. Two useful features include the summary of onechapter and preview of the next on the same page and the assessment toolsfound in the Appendices.The recommended treatment approach focuses onsupporting development of the child over time, rather than just eliminatingsymptoms. A multidisciplinary team of professionals can provide a varietyof treatment approaches to address the factors affecting the child at homeand at school. Coordination by a flexible, non-doctrinaire clinician, andpartnerships with parents and teachers are encouraged. While the authorssuggest that the school psychologist fill this role, not all schools haveaccess to one with the necessary perspective on treatment. Instead, thelicensed professional social worker is more likely to employ themultidisciplinary, strengths-based, coordinated approach to caring forchildren with Tourette's Syndrome and related conditions. Contributionsfrom licensed professional social workers would be an asset to the nextedition.

This book is an excellent resource
This is one of the best and most comprehensive works on Tourette's Syndrome I've come across.Scientists and/or practitioners working with people who have TS should buy this book.As a psychologist who works withpeople who have TS, I've found this book to be my best resource on thesubject. ... Read more

Product Description
Megan's story helps children understand that her tics are not something she can control, but are part of her life. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Taking Tourette Syndrome to School
I purchased this book to use during a lesson on Tourette Syndrome I was teaching to first graders, to help them understand the condition one of their classmates has. It was an excellent adjunct to my lesson. I did skip the page regarding medication since this child's family has not chosen that for him at this point. Otherwise the book is very helpful and child friendly as are many of the books in the "Special Kids in School" series (by various authors). One note for anyone introducing this book and attempting to talk about tics with this age group, some of the children may decide that they have Tourette's since some in my audience who have or have had transient tics felt so comfortable with the idea of Tourette Syndrome, they insisted they also have it. It was interesting trying to describe diagnostic differences to six year olds! That said, I was very happy to be able to use this book.

taking tourette's syndrom to school
very well written, nice tool for kids to understand tourettes ... Read more

Book Description
Don't Think About Monkeys is a remarkable collection of stories written by fourteen people who live with Tourette syndrome. Ranging from three teenagers learning to come to grips with teasing to adults encountering discrimination, the collection represents the incredible diversity of a disorder as diverse as life itself. The drama of living with a disability and the comedy of a Tourette syndrome conference show the range of a book the Oliver Sacks called "A fascinatingly varied book." ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Momkey's
I purchased this book several years ago. Since then, I have had the opportunity to observe several other children-one 19 year old with tourette syndrome. This book is full of a varity of people with different forms of Tourette's. The chldren I have met also have different types of "twitches and tic's". This book shows that the media-or televisions shows that protray Tourette's, are totally overblown. Some people do indeed "twitch" or "vocally" give out annoying sounds. Some are very well controlled in public, but let loose at home. The book is an excellent example of different examples of Tourette's and how to become aware of what you are seeing or hearing. Anyone really interested in the subject - read this book! (:

great great great
i loved this book. it was just so great. it was one of the best tourette expirnce books.i can realate to the authors because i have a few tics i also havre learing disabiltys so i know what feeling differnt can be like.

Shares others' stories, makes you feel like you're not alone
Informative, helped me understand what the touretter is feeling. (I am the parent).I understood that my son was not alone in some of the ways he feels on and off the medications.

It was the best description of how Touretters think.........
I am a parent of a twenty year old with Tourettes Syndrome. This book helped me understand how my son views the world.I just didn't realize the numerous behaviors related to Tourettes. I wish I would of read this bookten years ago. It would of made me a little less critical of some of his behaviors. This book is a must for anyone wanting to understand more aboutTourettes.

This book explains the unexplainable.
This book gives you a first-hand view to the complexities of this disorder.In reading through these stories, all those things that my child described were relayed in these pages.After reading this book,I finally found someone that described why our situation was so difficult.All thosethings that the doctors said fell into the "grey-area" weretouched upon."Don't Think About the Monkeys" provides you withthe understanding you need to give your child the compassion and empathy heneeds.If you're looking for material that will give you some insight --this is the book. ... Read more

Book Description
The result of one mother's tireless quest to find natural waysto treat her son's Tourette's syndrome, this booklet outlines the mostrecent and effective ways to treat these conditions using naturalsupplements and alternative therapies. Her journey will not only help healthe body, but also touch the heart of those struggling with Tourette'ssyndrome and other tic disorders. ... Read more

Book Description

Over a century and a half ago, a French physician reported the bizarre behavior of a young aristocratic woman who would suddenly, without warning, erupt in a startling fit of obscene shouts and curses. The image of the afflicted Marquise de Dampierre echoes through the decades as the emblematic example of an illness that today represents one of the fastest-growing diagnoses in North America. Tourette syndrome is a set of behaviors, including recurrent ticcing and involuntary shouting (sometimes cursing) as well as obsessive-compulsive actions. The fascinating history of this syndrome reveals how cultural and medical assumptions have determined and radically altered its characterization and treatment from the early nineteenth century to the present.

A Cursing Brain? traces the problematic classification of Tourette syndrome through three distinct but overlapping stories: that of the claims of medical knowledge, that of patients' experiences, and that of cultural expectations and assumptions. Earlier researchers asserted that the bizarre ticcing and impromptu vocalizations were psychological--resulting from sustained bad habits or lack of self-control. Today, patients exhibiting these behaviors are seen as suffering from a neurological disease and generally are treated with drug therapy. Although current clinical research indicates that Tourette's is an organic disorder, this pioneering history of the syndrome reminds us to be skeptical of medical orthodoxies so that we may stay open to fresh understandings and more effective interventions.

Customer Reviews (3)

The Cursing Brain
This is an excellent and comprehensive review of how Tourette Syndrome has
treated -- and mistreated -- through history. It reveals how much the
viewpoint of the reseacher (doctor, psychologist, etc.) determines the
course of a study or how a patient is seen. Anyone interested specifically
in TS will find it fascinating, but I think it is most relevant as a
reminder that the scientist is a participant in a relationship with a
patient. Medical students, medical researchers, physicians... should all
read it.

Fascinating but a bit thick
This is a fascinating and well-researched book, both in terms of TS itself and the history of medicine and psychology in Europe and the US.Some of the stories are just heart rending.The writing is sometimes a bit overly academic, however, and readers without graduate degrees or lots of other practice reading turgid prose may get a bit worn out while plowing through some of the paragraphs.

organic or psychogenic
CENTURY OLD DEBATE ABOUT WHETHER THE ETIOLOGY OF TOURETTE SYNDROME IS ORGANIC OR PSYCHOGENIC

Tourette Syndromes an often misdiagnosed, misunderstood, complicated and visually compelling disorder.In A Cursing Brain? The Histories of Tourette Syndrome, Howard I. Kushner undertakes a compelling deconstruction of the labyrinth that is the discourse surrounding Tourette Syndrome.

Throughout a major portion of the book, Kushner it seems leans towards multifactorial analysis of the syndrome. A collection of manifestations, Tourettes is sometimes not diagnosed as such unless accompanied by a co-morbid condition such as ADHD or OCD.Moreover, complications arising from a differences in perspective and classification make diagnosing and treating the syndrome more difficult.The split that divides runs between an infection/genetic camp and a purist camp whose assertions lie in a solely genetic argument. Lastly, along with such disorders as Syndenhams Chorea and similar manifestations of neurological disorders, it is "in your face" making it such a visually compelling disorder that it should move people to action.

The aim of this bookis to examine several perspectives and to explain them well.In an anti-reductionisin mind set Kushner attempts to zero in on the infectious and genetic perspectives. Kushner digs deep, analyzing in a Foucualdian way, the tradition as began by of Jean Marc Gaspard Itard, Jean Martin Charcot, Georges Gilles de la Tourette and George Guinon. In his involvement with Tourette Syndrome, Kushner seems to lean towards a more organic rather than a psychogenic origin. However, he is clear to point out that despite the success of Dr. Arthur Shapiro using Haloperidol to treat his patients, the side effects seem to be harder to live with than the cure.

Kushner briefly introduces the groundbreaking work of both Dr. Louise Kiessling as well as the work of Dr. David Comings - who represents the most thorough and persistent view of the genetic component as alternative perspectives. Dr. Comings theory has broad implications about certain behaviors that most mental health workers have historically attributed to psychological problems. Genetic studies have led Dr. Comings to conclude that Tourette Syndrome is a polygenic disorder, caused by the coming together from both parents of a number of genes affecting dopamine, serotonin and other brain chemicals.

After undertaking this long study, Kushner gives us a broader understanding of the syndrome and leads us to a conclusion relating to the plausibility and viability of each examination, treatment and perspective.

WHERE THE GENETIC AND INFECTIOUS ETIOLOGIES DIVERGE AND CONVERGE

Tourette Syndrome as a behavioral disorder often misdiagnosed and misunderstood. Kushner sought to gain a better understanding of its cause through two etiological models, the genetic and the immunological.Although the two models diverge in their essential constructs, he speculates that a key juncture where they converge is in the role of neurotransmitters.

Whether TS underlying pathology is ultimately genetic or infectious both models point to the chemical interaction of dopamine, serotonin and norepinephrine as a key mechanism of the disorder.

The Cursing Brain? The Histories of Tourette Syndrome examines a large cross section of perspective from the clinical to the historical and with a multinational flavor. As for the models themselves, Kushner found that researchers are far from a definitive understanding of the genetic model because of its extremely complex nature.

In my opinion, it seems like researchers of Tourette Syndrome seem to feel that they can calibrate the effects of serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine if they can find the genes that are responsible for regulating these neurotransmitters.To complicate things further, the immunological theory proposes that TS can be caused by GABHS, which triggers cross-reaction between GABHS antibodies and the cells of the basal ganglia.

Kushner's hope is to inspire the move to a more cooperative effort in a more systematic attempt at a joint formal standardization of the TS phenotype.

The immunological faction concludes that a prior streptococcal infection could be the cause of tics and ticcing behavior in some TS children.However, the fact that not all children who are infected with GABHS develop into Tourette Syndrome implicates genetic and epigenetic factors.

In the end, in the words of a highly esteemed expert in the field of TS, "theory takes you only so far-and often nowhere helpful." It should not, however, stop us from acting or, more specifically, from trying to relieve the distress of illness.

As we all take steps to fully understand the complex nature of TS, we have to understand that the definitions may be a product of the dominant discourse of the day.However Tourette - the illness, is real.We treat the symptoms even if we don't fully understand the underlying cause.And as science inches closer to a complete explanation of the etiology of TS, we are increasingly hopeful that someday we can confidently say that we've found a cure.

Miguel Llora ... Read more

Book Description
A child's story of how it feels to have Tourette syndrome and hyperactivity (Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder). ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Hi, I'm Adam
This book is WONDERFUL!We are raising our 11 year old nephew who has Tourette's, along with several other things, and he really needed some help understanding Tourette's so that he could explain it to his peers.He's been picked on at school because of his tics and we wanted something that he could read and understand.This fit the bill!THANK YOU, ADAM!He's reading Adam and the Magic Marble now.He said its a little harder to read (he's a little behind in reading skills than most 11 y/o's) but its a good read.He took it to bed tonight to read more.

WOW.. I'm glad some of you liked my book..
WOW! You have no idea how good it feels seeing that some people actually appreciated my writings.. that's just awesome! Thanks so much for taking the time to understand how i felt (I was only 10) about having to live with Tourette's Syndrome. Thanks even more for reviewing my book.. wow. I'm glad to see I've been able to reach people and help them. I'm 20 now, and it's been 10 years since I wrote those books, but it was a genuine feeling of accomplishment and meaning when I read your reviews. Again, thank you very much, you just made my dad/week/year..

(It wouldn't let me post this without rating the book, so I gave it a middle-rating of 3, hope I don't affect anything with that)

Great book for even an oldster like me
The book is written for a very young audience, but when my 27 year-old son read it he cried. He could remember feeling the same way, and even doing the same things. He had never talked to anyone about it, but really openedup after reading it. We had a hard time getting a diagnosis, so it wasespecially heartfelt for me to learn that we're not alone in this bigthing.

Very insightful and we're glad we found it
Our entire Tourette group has passed this book around and it is very good. Even small children can understand the messages here. And, they are happy to find out a young child their age wrote it. Two adult Touretters alsosaid they felt just that way, and never thought anyone else did.

Boring, not informative
I read this with my 9 year old son who has tourette syndrome.Neither of us got much out of the book.Too short, even for the price. ... Read more

Book Description
Tourette's syndrome is an unusual medical condition with a host of possible symptoms, some rather mundane, others extremely bizarre. The more curious symptoms such as the involuntary use of profanities have caught the attention of the public and have baffled physicians who are still seeking scientific explanations. In spite of the attention paid to Tourette's syndrome in recent years, there is still no book which explains the condition to patients and their families in an informative, comprehensive, and accessible manner. This book fills that need. It presents factual information on all important aspects of TS along with a composite case history. The story of Michael Lockman, who typifies the average child with TS, is woven into the factual text which contains information on symptomology, diagnosis, natural history, biochemistry, genetics, associated disorders, treatment and related topics. The authors have purposely chosen to portray a relatively mild case of TS since the majority of cases are mild, yet the more severe symptoms of TS are also introduced in the course of the story. Much of the value of the story lies in the way it presents Tourette's syndrome and its associated disorders in the context of everyday experience.Presenting information never before available in one source, this book will be invaluable to anyone concerned with this disorder including those suffering from TS and their families. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

prettydarn good
i really think this is one of the best book for people want to know about ts. it easily combines a ifctonal stroy with the basic factual info. you really care about the people in the story part also. ... Read more

Product Description
A Workbook for Kids with Tic Disorders. Children with Tourette Syndrome face a unique set of issues that are distinctive to the disorder. Related Disorder, such as OCD or AD/HD, often present an additional challenge for these children. The innovative solutions in this workbook will help kids cope with school, relate to friends, manage their behavior in public places, and strengthen their self-esteem. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Great Resource!
Great workbook! Interventions are easy to use and reasonable. Great reference for anyone working with a child with a tic disorder. I counsel students regularly and worksheets can be used for children with other disabilities as well. Must have resource! ... Read more