Hi
R.S.:
I know that the 'establishment' knows about this tic -- the following
are some references available:
Eisenberg, J, Wahrman, O & Bamberger, E: Greenberg, D. (1997). Psychogenic
cough tic: a case report. Isr(ael?) Journal of Psychiatry and Related
Sci(ences?), 34(3), 235-238.
Hogan,
MB & Wilson, NW. (1999). Tourette's syndrome mimicking asthma. Journal
of Asthma, 36(3), 253-256.
Plaza,
V. (1999). Chronic persistent cough due to Gilles de la Tourette's syndrome.
Respiration, 66(4), 380
Wagaman,
JR, Miltenberger, RG & Williams, DE. (1995). Treatment of a vocal
tic by differential reinforcement. Journal of Behavioural Therapy (and?)
Experimental Psychiatry, 26(1), 35-39.
In general
any literature seems to say 'yes it exists' and 'be sure it is really
TS' -- sometimes it might be asthma or a condition known as Psychogenic
Cough Tic.
Obviously
in your son's case diagnoses of both asthma and TS have been made, and
so it is quite possible that the TS has grabbed hold of and 'amplified'
the asthma symptoms (particularly if you are finding that the 'asthma
symptoms' are not responding to asthma treatments). Tics form out of
frequent and stereotypical movements and sounds (things you do or utter
often, and the same way each time) -- obviously with a history of asthma
coughing and wheezing would both be prime targets for a neurology browsing
around looking for something new to do.
This is
similar to something I mentioned in my response to Question
4 -- I discuss how attention to a particular behaviour (in that
case unusual eye movements) can cause that behaviour to either become
enshrined in a tic or to increase the frequency of an existing tic.
The fourth
reference I supplied was a report of a successful case of using reinforcement
to eliminate a throat clearing/coughing tic when Habit Reversal Training
(HRT) was not a technique preferred by the client -- either of these
techniques might be tried if this particular tic becomes very worrisome
or disruptive to your son (however HRT has considerably more, and more
rigorous, evidence to support it's high effectiveness).
Hope this
helps R.S!
Dr. Dunc.
