SEARCH: Tourette’s Syndrome

Tourette’s Syndrome
by Samantha Blache

Twitching, screaming randomly, shouting curse words, and making rude gestures are what many people think of when they hear the word Tourette’s. Why? Because it’s what they’ve seen in movies. The truth, however, is different. That leads to the question, “What is Tourette’s?”

Tourette’s Syndrome (TS) is a neurodevelopmental disorder. The term is used to describe a deficit in the function of the brain or central nervous system. With TS, the barrier in the brain that keeps certain signals from going into the body are weakened. This allows them to travel throughout the nerves and causes the movements and oral sounds. These movements and sounds are called tics.

For most, TS becomes evident in early childhood and are characterized by motor and vocal tics that wax and wane. These tics can be … continue reading in the Summer 2018 issue.

 

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SEARCH: Frustration Station

Frustration Station
by Lillian Csnernica

When Winter break is over and school is back in session, the temporary ceasefire is over. We’re back in the trenches for the Homework War.

I love my sons. My boys, John and Michael, are the two most important people on the entire planet. There are many joyful moments with my boys, but there is also a really staggering amount of frustration.

John has come so far from the days when we had to have a behavioral specialist and a one to one aide come to our home and “play” kindergarten with him until he got the hang of his first icon-based schedule. John’s a sophomore in high school now. Even with…continue reading in the Winter 2017 magazine.