has anyone got a child with both aspergers and tourettes ?

Rachael - posted on 05/15/2012

My 7 yr old has ASD- aspergers and i noticed this past month or so he has started a tic/tourette like thing where he shoves his head back.. very fast and forceful! i dont know how he hasn't done damage already to his neck... very worrying... Will need to make an appointment with Dr i think,

Tania - posted on 09/27/2011

thanks everyone for all your comments they have helped , it is a sruggle at the moment as he also has really bad rage anger issues so im trying to work out how to manage that, he alsp has sensory issues with tags on clothes different textures ect . its funny i thin i have evrything sorted and then something else pops up, i also have a second son that has only aspergers and its effecting him they seem to set each other off. all i can say is all mothers of children going through this well we all need a pat on the back as we all do a great job

Stephanie - posted on 09/14/2011

i have a 19 yr old - with high functioning autism and Tourette's. He has always and still battles with many of the daily struggles..and he has trouble with many of the common every day life choices. But i wouldnt trade him for all the money in the world. I also wouldnt want to go through what he does on a daily basis. He often gets frustrated and comes to me to talk. But many times, no matter what a mother - or father says or does.. they still struggle. I do believe that early diagnosis and a ongoing treatment - therapy plan is crucial for both parents - family as well as the child - teen or adult. As a family, this can be a very difficult, trying and tension causing situation. Many feelings and mis-understandings can and will occur for all in the family!!! believe me, after many many years of struggles throughout school etc. there is no quick fixer for dealing with this. One thing I did and continue to do.. that i feel helps..helped...? Do not let ur son try to use this as an excuse or for sympathy..etc. my son used to try and tell me oh i have a reason to act this way..remember..i have this.. or i have that!! I would just look at him and say NOT! u know better. This is something that God choose to give u ..how u deal and live with it, IS your choice... it can and will make or break u!!!! GOOD LUCK AND GOD BLESS!!!!

Mary - posted on 09/13/2011

Tourettes involves an autoimmune reaction in which the immune system is attacking cells in the basal ganglia section of the brain. Autism often involves autoimmunity as well. So it is not surprising that they often overlap. Treating the underlying health issue--an immune system that is overwhelmed and attacking one's own body can make a huge difference.

Jenn - posted on 09/13/2011

My 8 year old son has both high functioning autism and Tourette's.

Becky - posted on 09/13/2011

My son was about 4 (he is now 13) when he began to clear his throat, all the time, often loudly. He also grabbed his privates. On recommendation of his pediatrician we took him to an allergist. He was on allergy medication for about 3 months, with no improvement as far as throat clearing. Then we took him to a urologist and had an MRI done. All was negative. So we took him to a pediatric neurologist. Tourettes is diagnosed when one has motor tics, with at least one vocal tic, that can wax and wane over time, but must be present for at least a year. My son was 3 months shy of a year, so he did not receive an official diagnosis. We (his Dad and I) decided to wait and see. If the tics got any worse, or impeded his life in a major way, we would return to doc and visit the subject of meds. We told his teachers at the beginning of each school year what we suspected and to keep an eye out . None of his teachers ever thought it was bad and did not notice his classmates noticing or commenting on it. (That was our biggest worry at that point) Drake did well in grade school. 2 years ago he began middle school and it proved to be very traumatic for him.He cried everyday, at home, and mainly at school. He threw up alot b4 school. It was horrible. About 4 weeks in, he was diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Social Phobia. He was in an out patient program for a week. Received a Section 504 at school after.He displayed other nervous tics, but none were still ever too bad. Early this year was when I began to suspect it was more than Tourettes. When Drake talked and played Batman and Spiderman at 5, that was one thing. Now he is 12 and it is virtually ALL he talks about. I had always chalked it up to his being immature for his age, but there were other things that I now saw in a new light. His poor fine motor skills from an early age, his sudden onset stutter when he was 3 1/2, lack of coordination, his desire to only read or play super heroes, the fact that he can read a book on it and repeat it to me nearly verbatim, the fact that he walks on his toes alot, his ability to see only black or white-no in between. His short fuse at times, esp. if he feels he has been wronged, with desire to act impulsively in retaliation at those moments. He also has some OCD. He wont read a book or a comic if he does not have EVERY one in the series at the start...Drake has been seeing a psychiatrist and a psychologist for nearly 2 years now. He is on Lexapro and Seroquel currently, and those were prescribed for the anxiety mainly. Though his docs and I strongly suspect A.S., he in still in process of being tested. Currently I'm not really even sure which way to go with this. Drake switched schools after his horrible year at middle school, to a traditional school that we were lucky enough to get into that is K-8. He's currently in 8th. He sometimes still cries at school, and his newest tic is twisting the corner of his shirt,and he makes this kind of sss sound (like when he battles his dudes) but it really is a good school and I think he will do okay. I'm mainly just scared TO DEATH about high school for him next year. Was trying to get a diagnosis to obtain an IEP for him, but I'm told unless it directly impacts his education, its not likely. And he does do well in school (when he remembers to DO the homework, and then actually turn it in) except for math. (Spelling is a breeze, he can look at a word once and know it always!) Noone really notices Drake's tics except for his Dad and I and his younger brother and sister. Drake's brother and sister are very supportive of Drake btw. They are very tolerant and sympathetic of Drake's issues, even if at 11 and 8, they dont quite understand them. Drake has no idea of ANY of this. Which is another thing I have been discussing with his doc. Drake knows of his anxiety disorder, but thats all. I fear he will hear the words Aspergers or Tourettes and google himself into a full blown panic attack. Sorry If I have ran on. Not sure if this post helped but it's the first time I have shared this. My first step would be to visit your pediatrician, and keep a journal of everything. Good luck.

Anne - posted on 09/13/2011

My 7yr old son has recently been diagnosed ASD but he has recently started to tic. We are observing him at the moment to see if he is developing tourettes alongside the ASD diagnosis. He will do 3 short nods of his head followed by blinking of his eyes. Not sure what to think. Can anybody enlighten me as to how your child's tourettes manifested itself. Thanks

Felicia - posted on 09/13/2011

My 12 year old has AS and Tourettes.

Connie - posted on 09/13/2011

our 23 year old daughter had a Tourette diagnosis which when she was 9 overshadowed her also having ASD. At age 22 years, I insisted she be evaluated again for ASD and sure enough, she has ASD. So yes both can come together; her ASD tics are either happy contented sounds versus her emotionally dysfunction ASD tics can be mistaken for Tourette. I knew Tourette often subsides after puberty age; I waited for that to happen up to age 22 yrs; when they stayed as bad or worse AND I read that ASD has tics, I knew it.

Katherine - posted on 09/12/2011

Yes, I'm sure they do. I am responding so your post get's bumped up.