Oct 13 - Presentation To Be Held To Raise Awareness On Tourette's Syndrome And ADHD
A mother-of-three who has despaired over a lack of awareness and support for children living with ADHD or Tourette’s Syndrome will be hosting a presentation on both disorders for other parents in the same situation.
Tracy Tilbury has organised a presentation on ADHD and Tourette’s Syndrome on Tuesday 13th December at 7pm at Westside School, with a presentation held by Consultant Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist, Dr Peter Hindley, with support from the GHA and teachers, including educational psychologist Sarah Sheehan, who have promised to help spread the word about the event.
Mrs Tilbury is hoping this event will help to raise awareness and support, adding that it can be very difficult for those who live with the disorders.
She is hoping more parents or even adults who live with Tourette’s Syndrome and ADHD can come together and offer each other advice and support, and knowing that if anyone is having a bad day they can now have someone to turn to.
Mrs Tilbury took it upon herself to ask teachers, medical experts and carried out her own research on online forums to find a way to help her son Stefan when he was diagnosed with Tourette’s Syndrome at the age of six.
When asked what the main challenges are of living with a child who has ADHD and Tourette’s Syndrome, Mrs Tilbury added: “Bad temper is one of them, and seeing him get every distraught and upset, and not being able to help him because there is nothing I can do, unfortunately.
“The only thing I can do is calm him down, and trying to think of this in a positive way, he needs to learn how to live with it as he is still very young, and he just has to learn how to control his emotions and feelings, and learn how to live with it.”
Tourette’s Syndrome can be linked to autism, depression and anxiety, and Stefan, who is now 10, has been diagnosed with a sensory disorder. It affects all aspects of his life, including his sleep, the way he socialises with friends and family, and the way he feels within himself.
“Stefan is very aware of himself, and even going to the cinema can be an issue for him as he’s afraid of not being able to control the noises he makes,” Mrs Tilbury adds.
“Now he has learnt to let go a little bit, but just a few years ago he would make us leave a quiet place.
“He often tells me, ‘You see different to me because you only hear me and see me but you don’t know what it’s like for me inside’, and for me to hear that as a mum, it is completely heartbreaking.”
Mrs Tilbury adds that she has taken it upon herself to treat Stefan, Hayley, 8, and baby Liam, equally, and says Stefan dotes on his baby brother and that is when he switches off, but more help is needed when he’s going through a bad time.
To find out more about ADHD please visit http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder/Pages/Introduction.aspx and to find out more about Tourette’s Syndrome please visit http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Tourette-syndrome/Pages/Introduction.aspx
{fcomment}
