Tourette Syndrome

According to the Tourette Association of America, Tourette Syndrome is a neurodevelopmental disorder that’s “characterized by sudden, involuntary movements and/or sounds called tics. Tics can range from mild/inconsequential to moderate and severe, and are disabling in some cases.”

Less than 1% of the population has Tourette.

For comparison, the incidence of tic disorders in children is around 5% to 8%. Tics are not uncommon, but not all children who have tic disorders have Tourette. Dr. Nau helps patients and families learn whether they have Tourette or a benign tic disorder.

Many people think of outbursts and swearing when they think of Tourette, but the condition is actually much more complicated. In fact, 80% of people with Tourette also have other long-term, chronic conditions, such as obsessive compulsive disorder, anxiety, depression, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and more. Often, children have had these issues for a while and the diagnosis of Tourette Syndrome puts everything together for them.

After retiring from full-time practice at Mercy Pediatric Clinic, Dr. Nau continued to help in the office and care for sick kids. However, after a while, he felt called to do more.

In particular, Dr. Nau noticed that some of the patients with Tourette didn't have a lot of support and expertise in this area. Additionally, because his wife, Jackie, lives with the condition, Dr. Nau realized that he had insights that others didn’t.

Dr. Nau’s wife, Jackie, has Tourette Syndrome and is an advocate for those living with the condition. In addition to speaking at the National Tourette Conference, Jackie also volunteers her time to assist Dr. Nau’s patients who have Tourette, too.

Often, with parent permission, Jackie attends parts of the initial or subsequent evaluations to offer insights and support. She also meets with families and serves as a resource for some of the older girls who have Tourette.

Being able to meet someone like Jackie who has the same condition may help ease some of the patient's and family’s concerns about having Tourette Syndrome.

Dr. Nau has been noticed nationally for the comprehensive care that he and Jackie provide to children living with Tourette, including:

• Time: Because Dr. Nau is semi-retired, he’s able to spend a significant amount of time with patients as he often doesn’t have other patients to see. For example, when he sees a child with Tourette in the office for the first time, he can often spend two or three hours with them.
• Access: Because Tourette is a chronic, lifelong condition, Dr. Nau realizes that access to medical expertise is vital. So, he has committed to being accessible to patients at almost all hours of the day: Patients and their families have Dr. Nau’s personal phone number and he is often available to talk to them about anything they may be concerned about, such as the pros and cons of medications; alternative treatments for Tourette; tic disorders and more.
• Community Outreach: If the patient and family are open to it, Dr. Nau and Jackie are also willing to visit the patient’s school at no charge to talk with their peers, teachers and staff. This educational opportunity helps others learn what Tourette is and understand what their student or classmate is experiencing and why. This advocacy also helps the patient better navigate their daily interactions with others.