English: Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd, and firstly I'd like to thank Helen for submitting this petition. What it calls for is exactly right - Tourette's is overlooked by many and is viewed by most as a condition that means that you just swear uncontrollably, and I like many others am guilty of previously thinking that, but there's a lot more to it. It's a neurological condition that can be quite painful. That's why it's important that diagnosis is given and that medical care and support follows. But in Wales there currently is no clear clinical pathway to assess specialist provision and care, especially for children. There is only one Wales-based consultant specialising in Tourette's, but only in adults. This is very problematic. The tics that people develop are often most severe during childhood and adolescence, and, as a result, can impact on what we all recognise and know is a critical period in human development and socialisation. The reality is that delaying until adulthood to receive a diagnosis can cause a whole load of issues. Studies have shown that receiving a diagnosis of Tourette's can help individuals to understand their own behaviours and help them to explain their behaviours to others. Some report that without their diagnosis they felt more at risk of developing metal health problems, and it has been proven that mental health issues amongst those with Tourette's are more likely to develop. Alongside mental health issues, the majority of respondents to the Tourette's syndrome impact survey study, which included both children and adults, reported at least one tic that caused physical pain and damage. That's why access to occupational therapy that can address pain management, as well as speech difficulties and sensory issues, is vital. As well as opening access to services and support, receiving a diagnosis allows people as well to meet others with Tourette's, therefore helping them to develop a sense of community and belonging that they might not have otherwise. Going back to an earlier point I made, there's a lot more to Tourette's than we might initially think. There's a lot to be said about education, as well as how we talk about it and address the stigma surrounding it. I think this petition has already played a part in doing that, and Helen should take pride in that. So, again, thank you to Helen for highlighting this issue with the committee, and I look forward to seeing how the Government responds to the petition and what it calls for. Diolch.
Welsh: Diolch, Ddirprwy Lywydd, ac yn gyntaf hoffwn ddiolch i Helen am gyflwyno'r ddeiseb hon. Mae'r hyn y mae'n galw amdano'n hollol gywir - caiff syndrom Tourette ei anwybyddu gan nifer ac mae'r rhan fwyaf yn ei ystyried yn gyflwr sy'n golygu eich bod yn rhegi'n afreolus, ac rwyf fi fel llawer o bobl eraill wedi bod yn euog o feddwl hynny yn y gorffennol, ond mae llawer mwy iddo. Mae'n gyflwr niwrolegol sy'n gallu bod yn boenus iawn. Dyna pam y mae'n bwysig bod diagnosis yn cael ei wneud a bod gofal a chymorth meddygol yn dilyn hynny. Ond yng Nghymru nid oes llwybr clinigol clir ar hyn o bryd i asesu darpariaeth a gofal arbenigol, yn enwedig i blant. Dim ond un meddyg ymgynghorol a geir yng Nghymru sy'n arbenigo ar syndrom Tourette, a hynny mewn oedolion yn unig. Mae hon yn broblem fawr. Mae'r ticiau y mae pobl yn eu datblygu yn aml yn fwyaf difrifol yn ystod plentyndod a'r glasoed, ac o ganlyniad, gallant effeithio ar yr hyn rydym i gyd yn ei gydnabod fel cyfnod tyngedfennol mewn datblygiad dynol a'r broses o gymdeithasoli. Y gwir amdani yw y gall aros nes eich bod yn oedolyn i gael diagnosis achosi llwyth o broblemau. Mae astudiaethau wedi dangos y gall cael diagnosis o syndrom Tourette helpu unigolion i ddeall eu hymddygiad eu hunain a'u helpu i esbonio eu hymddygiad i eraill. Dywed rhai eu bod wedi teimlo'n fwy tebygol o ddatblygu problemau iechyd meddwl cyn iddynt gael eu diagnosis, ac mae tystiolaeth yn dangos bod unigolion â syndrom Tourette yn fwy tebygol o ddatblygu problemau iechyd meddwl. Ochr yn ochr â phroblemau iechyd meddwl, nododd y rhan fwyaf o'r ymatebwyr i astudiaeth yr arolwg o effaith syndrom Tourette, a oedd yn cynnwys plant ac oedolion, eu bod wedi cael o leiaf un tic a achosodd boen a niwed corfforol. Dyna pam y mae mynediad at therapi galwedigaethol sy'n gallu mynd i'r afael â rheoli poen, yn ogystal ag anawsterau lleferydd a phroblemau synhwyraidd, yn hanfodol. Yn ogystal ag agor mynediad at wasanaethau a chymorth, mae diagnosis yn caniatáu i bobl gyfarfod ag unigolion eraill sydd â syndrom Tourette, gan eu helpu felly i ddatblygu ymdeimlad o gymuned a pherthyn na fyddent wedi'i deimlo fel arall o bosibl. Os caf fynd yn ôl at bwynt cynharach a wneuthum, mae llawer mwy i syndrom Tourette nag y byddem yn ei feddwl i ddechrau. Mae llawer i'w ddweud am addysg, yn ogystal â'r modd y siaradwn amdano a mynd i'r afael â'r stigma sy'n gysylltiedig ag ef. Credaf fod y ddeiseb hon eisoes wedi chwarae rhan yn y gwaith o wneud hynny, a dylai Helen ymfalchïo yn hynny. Felly, unwaith eto, diolch i Helen am dynnu sylw'r pwyllgor at y mater, ac edrychaf ymlaen at weld sut y mae'r Llywodraeth yn ymateb i'r ddeiseb a'r hyn y mae'n galw amdano. Diolch.