To The Editor:

My name is Diana Correia, and I have a child with Tourette Syndrome. This is a neurological disorder in which the signals of the brain are interrupted, resulting in involuntary sounds and movements that are called ‘tics.’ People plagued with this condition stand out quite a bit and have absolutely no control of the sounds and random movements they make.

There are two types of ‘tics,’ and a person would need to present with both, for a minimum of one full year, in order to be diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome (TS for short). The first is Motor Tics which can include repetitive blinking, shoulder shrugging, head jerking, facial grimacing, and back arching. Vocal Tics encompass things like throat clearing, barking, coughing, blurting out words, or humming. Both sets of tics, can become quite painful over time.

Tics can range from mild to severe and often begin in childhood, sometimes accompanied by ADHD or OCD. While there’s no cure, treatments like therapy and medication can help manage symptoms, but do not fully stop the tics from happening. TS is a genetic condition. It is not contagious, and it does not affect intelligence or awareness.

I have partnered with Newtown schools over the years to provide education to teachers and peers. I have found that once younger generations become informed and aware of my child’s diagnosis, there is a shift towards tolerance, inclusion, and acceptance. This simple awareness has led to normalizing my child’s situation in school. It has been wonderful.

However, we have found it very difficult to find this same acceptance in public spaces in town. The loud barking sound my child makes (dozens of times per hour, every hour, for the past 5 years), sounds very much like a croupy cough. This sound is typically followed by my son tucking his chin into his shoulder, and twitching.

I understand that for many adults, it appears that my child may be seriously ill. I also fully understand that no one wants to be exposed to illness. I hope that in reading this, it will help promote some understanding and empathy. If you see a family out and about with a pre-teen who is ‘coughing’ continuously, I invite you take a closer look and notice the repetitive muscle spasms that are also present along with the sound. We are accepting of all questions, and it only takes a moment to ask. I hope that this message helps humanize this condition.

Thank you so much for reading.

Diana Correia

Newtown