Tourette Syndrome and learning

For some people, tics that happen during the school day can be distracting or embarrassing. As a result, many young people try hard to hold their tics in while they are at school or around other people. This can involve a significant amount of energy and concentration, which can sometimes distract them from schoolwork.

Don’t be afraid to seek help. It might be useful to talk with the school about creating an Individual Education Plan (IEP). An IEP will outline specific educational goals for your child and ensure these are reviewed regularly. If your child is falling behind in their studies, it may also be helpful to ask about a learning assessment with a specialist teacher or educational psychologist. You child’s school can help to put you in touch with appropriate services.

Writing can sometimes take longer for young people with TS. This can cause difficulties with schoolwork, as the young person may struggle to write clear or full notes.

Talk to your child’s teacher to see if you can find a solution. Simple strategies can sometimes be very helpful. For example, worksheets (rather than copying down) with a list of tasks to be done for homework can help a child to remember what they have been asked to do. Alternatively, their teacher may email the homework tasks to the family to save the child from writing. Use of a keyboard to touch-type can be a good alternative to handwriting, if appropriate.

As young people with TS may sometimes struggle with concentration in class, it can be helpful to put measures in place to help with this. For example, this may include having them sit near the front or at the side of the classroom so that they can hear what the teacher is saying and read the board easily.

Attending a homework club can also help with understanding the work that has been covered in class. Strategies like ‘mind mapping’ might help young people to plan their work as well. Similarly, it can be useful to brainstorm different ways of approaching a task before getting started.

The transition from primary school to secondary school can be difficult for any young person, particularly those with TS. Secondary schools tend to put more emphasis on self-management, and organisation, and can involve learning lots of new rules.

If this sounds like it might be difficult for your child, talk with their teacher before they make the move to secondary school. Having a timetable in their homework diary can be helpful, as can making checklists or having a buddy who will help them during their first terms in the new environment

• Work out how the child can make notes most efficiently. For example, you can use mind maps to create colourful visual representations of information, allowing for better organization and understanding.
• Help the child organise themselves as well as they can by creating an easy-to-follow schedule, breaking tasks into manageable steps, and maintaining a good, clutter-free work area.
• The move from primary to secondary school can be a significant transition. Speak to the class teachers, the SENCo (Special Educational Needs Coordinator) at the current and future schools for any advice on how to manage this change effectively.
• Visit the BBC’s Bitesize to discover additional tools and strategies for effective studying. This offers a variety of educational materials, including interactive lessons, videos, and quizzes across various subjects.