{"id":3511,"date":"2014-04-03T09:59:14","date_gmt":"2014-04-03T13:59:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/njcts.org\/tsparents\/?p=3511"},"modified":"2014-04-03T09:59:14","modified_gmt":"2014-04-03T13:59:14","slug":"should-i-medicate-symptoms-of-my-disorder","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/njcts.org\/tsparents\/should-i-medicate-symptoms-of-my-disorder\/","title":{"rendered":"Should I medicate symptoms of my disorder?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ken Shyminsky<\/a>,\u00a0<\/strong>a former vice president of the Greater Toronto Chapter of the\u00a0Tourette Syndrome Foundation of Canada<\/strong><\/a>, draws upon his personal experiences as an teacher and student with Tourette Syndrome to help children with TS and related disorders. He also has Tourette himself and is the founder of the website\u00a0Neurologically Gifted<\/strong><\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

\"Medicate<\/h5>\n

Many years ago, I (the lead Special Education Teacher in my school) was asked by the principal to tell a parent that her child needed to be on medication in order to succeed in school. \u00a0I refused to do so. \u00a0I believed that although medications might have helped this child focus in school, it was not necessarily the only answer.<\/p>\n

I saw that this student\u2019s deficits could be managed without medications, given he received focused support at school and at home. \u00a0I knew the academic support was provided by parents at home, and I knew they could be provided at school because his teacher had the understanding and training to provide the necessary accommodations to the student.<\/p>\n

My advice is as follows:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Educate yourself.<\/span><\/strong> \u00a0Know the deficits you face because of your neurological disorder, and what you will gain\/regain through use of a medication, and what the possible side effects might be. \u00a0Which is worse: \u00a0the deficit or the side effect? \u00a0If you are only slightly impaired by the disorder, it may not be worthwhile to suffer side effects for something that isn\u2019t affecting your achievements in life. \u00a0However, for those who are profoundly impaired by their disorder, who stand to gain control, and an opportunity at success in their lives \u2013 it\u2019s a small sacrifice to endure some side effects. \u00a0In truth, the side effects of the medication might seem minor compared to the suffering they endure because of their disorder(s). \u00a0It really is an individual decision based on individual needs.<\/p>\n

Remember this:<\/span><\/strong> \u00a0We are made of chemicals. \u00a0Those lucky to walk among us who have typical chemical composition have balanced chemistry. \u00a0They are able to function \u201cnormally\u201d. \u00a0They are chemically able to meet the behavioral expectations of society. \u00a0They can attend to conversations, respond in appropriate ways, and fulfill societal obligations (be kind, not hit, etc.) \u2013 even when they are being rushed\/pressured\/evaluated. Those who do not have balanced chemicals often cannot do these things when they are required.<\/p>\n

\"MedicateBy taking medications (chemicals), we move our chemical composition closer to a balanced state, to where it should be, enabling us to meet social expectations \u2013 to act \u201cnormally\u201d. \u00a0In a school setting, a student can attend to instructions or lessons, thus increasing his\/her ability to learn. \u00a0The challenge however, is to strike a balance between what is gained by artificially adding chemicals to our bodies, and what is lost through possible side effects. \u00a0It is a difficult decision, especially when it involves our children.<\/p>\n

\"Medicate<\/p>\n

Weigh the pros and cons<\/span><\/strong>. \u00a0Are the challenges posed by the disorder debilitating enough to warrant \u201cchemical correction\u201d? \u00a0To make this decision, you must be aware of the medication\u2019s possible side effects. \u00a0You may need to try the medication to see if the side effects occur in your case, and if they do, how severe they are. \u00a0As well, you need to be aware of other similar medications that have different possible side effects. \u00a0Keep in mind that it may be possible to take fast acting medications that can be taken as needed, rather than daily. \u00a0With\u00a0these, you may only need to medicate symptoms<\/strong> when needed (not on weekends or holidays).<\/p>\n

Milder symptoms can often be overcome through interventions other than medication. However even when medications are prescribed, they work best with additional interventions. Medical and behavioral interventions are the gold standard for treating these disorders. No problem can be simply solved with a pill.<\/p>\n

In the case of a child, behavioral interventions (strategies) must be employed consistently at home and at school.<\/p>\n

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