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Boy's Tourette's Tics Spark Outrage
23 Apr
Summary
- Nine-year-old has Tourette's with coprolalia, causing involuntary swearing.
- Family faces stares and remarks due to son's uncontrollable outbursts.
- Campaign aims to educate public and reduce stigma around TS symptoms.
A family in Bristol is campaigning to destigmatize Tourette syndrome (TS) for their nine-year-old son, Rocky, who has coprolalia. This condition causes involuntary swearing and socially inappropriate outbursts, leaving Rocky exhausted and anxious. He now studies at home with a tutor due to difficulties managing his symptoms at school.
Rocky's parents, Sarah and Mike, highlight the constant stares and remarks they receive, emphasizing that the outbursts are involuntary and do not represent Rocky's true intentions or beliefs. They advocate for greater public understanding and education about the condition.
Rocky first experienced facial twitching at age three, with vocal symptoms developing by six. He describes his tics as an uncontrollable urge that builds up and can last for hours, intensifying with tiredness or stress. Younger children at school often misunderstand his tics, sometimes finding them amusing.
Although Rocky has an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) for tailored support, he is not currently in mainstream education. The Department for Education acknowledges the importance of research and support for TS and other tic disorders.
Tourettes Action reports over 300,000 individuals in the UK live with TS, with coprolalia affecting only 10-30%. The charity notes a decline in referrals, leaving families struggling to fund private care and facing long delays for support. They call for TS to receive the same attention as conditions like autism and ADHD.
