Someone very close to me whom I have known since he was born has recently developed Tourette's. (Not my son)

May I recommend Tourette Syndrome and Human Behavior by David E. Comings, MD, Hope Press, Duarte Ca. 1990.

One of the facts I became aware of upon reading this tome was that Tourette's is a very commmon genetic disorder, much more common than we think. Then I realized that some of the odd behaviors I have seen in clients over the years, which I didn't recognize as tics might very well be.

I once recognized it in a psychology grad student who had gone undiagnosed his entire life. He cleared his throat and coughed, grabbed his pants, and straightneed his leg out in a kicking motion over and over.

The obvious tics like coprolalia are easily identified. It's the subtle ones and the combinations of tics that are not so readily identified as Tourette's that I find challenging diagnostically. We don't have physicians in this area who recognize these disorders readily. I never learned anything about Asperger's as a student either. A cerebellum disorder, for instance can have affects on development which, when identified allows everyone responsible for a child's growth and development to be more sensitive to individual needs.

Recognizing genetic conditions that affect personality development and the challenges these individuals face in growing up and finding a niche has been an important part of my learning in my field.

l,hg