Medical history for Tourette's disorder
During a medical history for Tourette's disorder (TD), your child's doctor will ask questions about your child's tics. You may have to monitor the tics for a few months to accurately answer all questions. Questions may include:
- What kinds of tics are present, and what makes them worse?
- When did the tics first start, and which type of tics came first?
- Did the tics first start after an infection or illness?
- Are the tics noticed by other people, such as teachers and children at school?
- Has your child tried to control the tics? What are the results of that effort?
- Does your child seem aware of the tics? Has your child said anything that indicates he or she is frustrated or upset about them?
- Does your child have any habits or rituals that have to be done a certain way?
- How does your child perform at school? Has his or her teacher mentioned any difficulties with attention span, staying on task, or bothering others?
- How much do the tics interfere with your child's daily activities or school performance?
- What medicines is your child currently taking?
Tourette's disorder likely has a strong genetic component. This means that having a particular gene or combination of genes makes a person likely to develop the condition. After answering a doctor's detailed questions about the family's medical history, many parents of a child with TD are surprised to learn other family members may have also had symptoms of the condition.
Questions a doctor may ask about you, your family, and other factors that may be associated with your child developing TD include:
- Has a family member had the same or similar symptoms?
- Has a family member been told that he or she has Tourette's disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), an anxiety disorder, learning disabilities, sleep problems, or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)?
- Were there any complications during the mother's pregnancy, labor, or delivery?
- Did the mother smoke or drink substantially while she was pregnant?
- Does your child have a stable family life?
| Author: | Debby Golonka, MPH | Last Updated: September 27, 2007 |
| Medical Review: | Michael J. Sexton, MD - Pediatrics Karin M. Lindholm, DO - Neurology | |
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