Mitchell's Diagnosis

Mitchell had an appointment with the neurologist yesterday and was diagnosed with "severe" Tourette Syndrome.
This does not come as much of a surprise to us; we've been considering it for about 3 years. Mitchell has lots of tics that can be almost constant, some of which can be rather violent--such as throwing his head around for a couple of revolutions (that lasted about 2-3 weeks but seems to have passed). The severity and constancy of the tics seems to have gotten much worse since last Summer.
We are attacking this on two fronts (three if you count the spiritual): He is seeing a pediatric--autism doctor in Santa Fe (a DAN doctor. DAN=Defeat Autism Now). Mitchell has ADHD (or maybe just ADD now that we know about the Tourette Syndrome), which we've learned is a form of autism. The DAN doctor has him on a glutten-free casein-free diet (as the first step toward isolating the cause), and we are getting a lab test done--in France! (By mail of course). The DAN dr. has Mitchell on medication for the tics.
The other front is the medication prescribed by the neurologist. Of course, both doctors are aware of the other's treatment.
Mitchell hasn't been bothered by any of this. When people ask him if he needs help or if something is wrong, he simply says "this is normal for me." He is very outgoing, and this hasn't held him back at all. I think it helps that he goes to a school where eccentricity is normal.
I'm not concerned that he will develop the "swearing." That only occurs in 15 percent, and I suspect that personality might also have something to do with it. I'm not worried that Mitchell will develop that problem.
By the way, this is hereditary, and I can identify with the tics. I knowI had the ocassional tic, just nothing like what Mitchell has.
Anyway, no cause known, no cure. But he should get better as he gets in his older teens, early adult. With the medication he should be able to manage things so that it is not a social problem Hopefully, the DAN doctor will be successful in finding the cause of his ADD/ADHD (probably heavy metals in the system--seems to be a modern immunization era thing). Between that and getting him treatment for TS, he should be a much happier child. --Greg