The constant confrontations, tempter tantrums, lying, and failure to take responsibility cause anger, turmoil, frustrations and cross recriminations in the household. Parents are often told that their child's poor behavior is a result of their poor parenting skills. However, in our experience, even parents with excellent parenting skills, and other normal children in the house, may have difficulty controlling the behavior of a TS child. Often times traditional psychiatric treatments are ineffective. We find that family therapy is helpful, since the behavior of a TS child affects everyone around them and they often have a distorted perception of the role their actions play in their troubled social interactions.
Structure is very important.
A basic rule is that motor tics, vocal tics, coprolalia, and compulsive behaviors are not to be disciplined since these are generally involuntary actions, but other disruptive, anti-social, aggressive or destructive behaviors require a immediate, short, neutral consequence, such as time out in a room or corner or some form of physical activity. Books on Tourette Syndrome See Hope Press Books .