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Question 20: I listened to the museum
of vocal tics. And I have a question because alot of the vocal
tics exampled a sense of compulsion, which I know identifies TS. But
what about vocalization that is often repeated without the thrusts
but just sounds like silliness? And mind you I emphasize "often
repeated." Does this qualify as a TS vocal tic. My husband does
repeated phrases. And our son does repeated songs, sounds and phrases,
continually. I hope to get him a diagnosis by a professional but he
is only 5 and I want to see what may change or not. thank you ----
S.H., Texas, USA.
Good
Afternoon S.H:
By 'sounds like silliness' do you mean nonsensical noises -- nonwords?
Certainly many simple phonic tics in TS fit this pattern yes.
If instead you mean sensical words/phrases that are silly in content
and repeated over and over this could also be a tic. Repeating something
you have heard over and over again is called echolalia and is a recognized
type of complex phonic tic in TS.
Not knowing the specifics of your situation, however, repeating phrases
again and again may also be an indication of further diagnoses as well
(a number of other disorders commonly occur with TS). If the phrases
are always in context for example, just silly and inappropriate, some
impulsivity characteristic of Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
(ADHD) might be present. On the other hand, if the phrases are repeated
in response to particular thoughts, or in a very routinized way, or
to relieve anxiety, or a certain number of times this may indicate elements
of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). These questions are not an exhaustive
list of what must be asked to tease apart what, if any, diagnoses are
warranted -- they are simply an example of the sorts of observations
that need to be made by any doctor (Psychologist or M.D.) you approach
to assess your son.
Anecdotally, it seems quite common for individuals with these disorders
to parrot lines from songs, movies, and television (my own weakness
is Monty Python). I've been known to say in my presentations (tongue
firmly in cheek) that the easiest way to diagnose a disinhibition disorder
(TS, ADHD, OCD) is to simply ask two questions: "What is your favourite
show", and "Will you now repeat every funny line from every
episode"..................... :-)
I
should also add that average age of onset has been ascertained using
international data to be between 5 and 6. If you have been seeing and
hearing tics for at least a year then a diagnosis is warranted.
