School problems in Tourette's syndrome.
BACKGROUND
A retrospective study of 138 children with Tourette's syndrome for associated school problems revealed that at the time of initial evaluation, 64 subjects (46%) experienced a school-related problem.


OBJECTIVE
To survey a childhood population with Tourette's syndrome to explore the contributions of neurobehavioral concomitants to academic difficulties.


RESULTS
A diagnosis of a specific learning disorder had previously been made in 30 (22%) of 138 children. Among the 108 without a diagnosis of learning disorder, 36 (33%) experienced school difficulties defined as grade retention (16 [15%]) and/or special education placement (41 [38%]). Regression analysis of subjects without a diagnosis of learning disability revealed that the presence of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder served as a significant predictor of school problems.


CONCLUSIONS
Tics represented the primary reason for referral, but did not emerge as a significant predictor of academic problems. Rather, school-related difficulties appeared to be strongly associated with comorbid attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder.
Abwender
D A
DA
Department of Neurology, University of Rochester Medical Center, NY, USA.
Como
P G
PG
Kurlan
R
R
Parry
K
K
Fett
K A
KA
Cui
L
L
Plumb
S
S
Deeley
C
C
D000293:Adolescent; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D002648:Child; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004519:Education, Special; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D009771:Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D010552:Personality Assessment; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012917:Social Adjustment; D005879:Tourette Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy