Monday, June 05, 2006

Taking on Tourette's

During karate class, Andria Dontigney of Swansea focuses on kicks instead of tics.

On her instructor's three count, 12-year-old Andria balanced on her right leg, then delivered a quick kick with her left.

No blinking. No grimacing. No finger snapping. Each kick is a way of releasing pent up frustration. Sort of a "take that" for every time her body twitches uncontrollably.

She sees a counselor regularly at I Think I Can, a counseling center in Fairview Heights, and takes medication to help control side effects of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and obsessive compulsive disorder.

Taking karate helps, too.

Source

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