Tomas is a 4-year-old male who is an only child of two professional parents. They often leave
him with a babysitter or in day care when he finishes preschool. In the last few months, he has
developed some motor tics, especially in his right eye. He seems to blink continuously and is
often not aware of it.
Further, his preschool teacher reported that he has been making noises during quiet and playtime.
When asked to control the noises, Tomas seems confused. He is unaware of the noises that he
makes. His parents have also noticed that he has become very clingy during the drive to
preschool each morning and that he is developing fears of water and heights. They are worried
about him as he was not like this as a baby. Their doctor referred them to a child neurologist for
an evaluation.
Discussion Topic 1 of 1
What disorder does Tomas likely have (according to your reading)? How will the child
neurologist test Tomas to make a diagnosis? Explain which parts of the brain are involved in his
involuntary actions and describe how this disorder can be treated.
Solution
Tomas has Tourette syndrome.
Symptoms
Tics which are sudden, brief, intermittent movements or sounds are the distinguished symptoms
of Tourette syndrome.
Simple tics include - eye blinking, head jerking, eye darting, nose twitching, etc
Vocal tics include - grunting, coughing, barking,etc.
Tomas seems to have both simple and vocal tics.
Vocal and simple tics can sometime be not the reason for Tourette Syndrome. Hence, to rule out
the possibility, it is necessary to do blood tests and especially MRI scans.
There\'s no specific treatment for Tourette syndrome. Treatment controls tics that interfere with
functioning.
edications to help control tics or reduce symptoms of related conditions include:
Therapy
Causes-
Tics result from dysfunction in the central nervous system especially in the cortical and
subcortical regions, the thalamus, basal ganglia, and frontal cortex of the brain. Failures in
circuits connecting the brain\'s cortex and sub-cortex is an implicated reason for Neuroanatomic
models. Studies show that abnormal activity of the brain chemical, or neurotransmitter,
dopamine, is involved. Dopamine excess or super-sensitivity of the dopamine receptors is also an
underlying mechanism of Tourette syndrome..
Tomas is a 4-year-old male who is an only child of two professional .pdf
1. Tomas is a 4-year-old male who is an only child of two professional parents. They often leave
him with a babysitter or in day care when he finishes preschool. In the last few months, he has
developed some motor tics, especially in his right eye. He seems to blink continuously and is
often not aware of it.
Further, his preschool teacher reported that he has been making noises during quiet and playtime.
When asked to control the noises, Tomas seems confused. He is unaware of the noises that he
makes. His parents have also noticed that he has become very clingy during the drive to
preschool each morning and that he is developing fears of water and heights. They are worried
about him as he was not like this as a baby. Their doctor referred them to a child neurologist for
an evaluation.
Discussion Topic 1 of 1
What disorder does Tomas likely have (according to your reading)? How will the child
neurologist test Tomas to make a diagnosis? Explain which parts of the brain are involved in his
involuntary actions and describe how this disorder can be treated.
Solution
Tomas has Tourette syndrome.
Symptoms
Tics which are sudden, brief, intermittent movements or sounds are the distinguished symptoms
of Tourette syndrome.
Simple tics include - eye blinking, head jerking, eye darting, nose twitching, etc
Vocal tics include - grunting, coughing, barking,etc.
Tomas seems to have both simple and vocal tics.
Vocal and simple tics can sometime be not the reason for Tourette Syndrome. Hence, to rule out
the possibility, it is necessary to do blood tests and especially MRI scans.
There's no specific treatment for Tourette syndrome. Treatment controls tics that interfere with
functioning.
edications to help control tics or reduce symptoms of related conditions include:
Therapy
Causes-
Tics result from dysfunction in the central nervous system especially in the cortical and
subcortical regions, the thalamus, basal ganglia, and frontal cortex of the brain. Failures in
circuits connecting the brain's cortex and sub-cortex is an implicated reason for Neuroanatomic
models. Studies show that abnormal activity of the brain chemical, or neurotransmitter,
2. dopamine, is involved. Dopamine excess or super-sensitivity of the dopamine receptors is also an
underlying mechanism of Tourette syndrome.
