Teenage Tourette's Camp is a documentary that is to be shown on Tuesday 3rd January on ITV at 9pm. It's about 5 British Teenagers who go to America to stay at a special summer camp for kids with Tourette's. More info here (http://www.shinelimited.com/about.jsp?id=4&aid=4)

As the mother of an 8 year old with Tourette's Syndrome, I will obviously be watching it. Having googled it, all I seem to come up with is negative comments about it being a 'freak show' or a 'Big Brother for mentalists'

Obviously I find these comments very offensive. I see the programme as a good opportunity to show how Tourette's affects a childs life and their families too. Hopefully it will also show how they are just as 'normal' as any other child and can do anything any other teenager can do.

Tourette's is not all about swearing and shouting. My son does neither! He has had both motor and vocal tics for the last 2 years but these do not include swearing.

I am curious as to what people's opinions of this programme are both before you watch it and afterwards (if you do watch it) Do you expect it to be a 'freak show' {lets laugh at the wierdo's swear and twitch} Has it changed your perception of Tourette's or did you just find it something to laugh at for an hour on a boring Tuesday night?

Sensible opinions welcomed.

Thanks

:thumbsup:

I will be watching, and i really hope it will be a usefull programme for those of us who have no idea how it must be for sufferers and their families, and for those living with tourettes from day to day.
However i expect it will go the 'entertainment' route rather than information.
I hope i am proved wrong, and if nothing else it will make more people aware, and that has to be good.
I have noticed a tendency to use tourettes in comedy programmes and they do always show the person with tourettes swearing, so it's a good chance to show how things really are.

It seems to me that programme makers these days use video to attract the viewers.... no matter what the subject.... Shameless brought the subject to light.... even though I enjoyed the series.

It is not a subject to be taken lightly as people with Tourette's syndrome find it hard to fit into "normal life" as they swear for no reason or have ticks which make them erratic or many side effects which set them aside from "normal people."

To put these people in a camp and video them is beyond disgust as far as I am concerned.... the money would have been better spent through the NHS.... seems like voyeurism of a mental health issue is what is going on here.... I can understand a true documentary but not a show.

What an interesting insight into this condition, I never really understood what a broad thing Tourettes can be.

search (http://www.sheffieldforum.co.uk/showthread.php?s=&threadid=80779&highlight=tourettes)

im watching it, seems very interesting

Originally posted by Strix
search (http://www.sheffieldforum.co.uk/showthread.php?s=&threadid=80779&highlight=tourettes)

Fair Point

Sorry - didn't mean to sound blunt, it's just that there isn't room in the 'report this post' box to put the hyperlink in, so I posted it there for the merge ;)

So then, what did you all think?

I watched, obviously with a personal interest. At first I groaned and thought "Great! They chose to focus on the ones who swear!" This is usually the case with programmes about Tourette's. I was so glad they showed the ones who just had motor tics or other vocal tics (grunting etc) as it gave a more balanced view. This is what my son is like. He does his tics in quick succession ......... first a high pitched scream, then a click with his tongue then touching his hands together. this is sometimes accompanied by wide mouth opening and sticking his tongue out.

I think the camp is a fantastic idea and I think the kids got a lot from it.

This may not be a very nice thing to say but I thought one particular girl (naming no names) was nothing short of a spoiled brat and a bully. To blame some of her bad behaviour on her TS was out of order and just an excuse for her nastiness. But, that is just my opinion.

I'm glad they showed it and I hope others viewed it on a good light too.

I'm also glad it showed the realtion between TS, OCD and AS, as my son has all 3.

Mod: Threads Merged.

Originally posted by Strix
Sorry - didn't mean to sound blunt, it's just that there isn't room in the 'report this post' box to put the hyperlink in, so I posted it there for the merge ;)

Not at all mi dear - never thought to search...:D

Originally posted by Kristian
Mod: Threads Merged.

Cheers Kristian you little superstar xx

Originally posted by FetishFairy
So then, what did you all think?



Honestly ? Not Sure.

I am the first to admit my ignorance. I found it very difficult to watch to be honest. How on earth do I begin to comprehend what parents/sufferers go through ?
It was very enlightening, but I have to admit I still don't really understand.

Originally posted by Lindseyw
Cheers Kristian you little superstar xx

You are, of course, very welcome! :)

<----- Bows gracefully ;)

Personally i found it informative, sure the ellement of entertainment was there but on watching it i think the more exposure this condition gets the more understanding we can become.
Those two shop assistants who didn't bat an eye when the girl went shopping with her mum was a high spot for me, their reaction(or lack of reaction) was very encouraging.
It was sad to think the lads mum had to say her son had brain damage because it was the simplest way to explain his behaviour.
Hopefully after programmes like this she won't need to any more.

So, did anyone else watch it?

If so, what did you think?

Originally posted by FetishFairy
So, did anyone else watch it?

If so, what did you think?

FF I hope you didn't think my last post was rude... ?

I just don't understand it.

Lindseyw ... please don't worry!! You weren't at all rude.

TS is a very wierd thing to get your head around ...... believe me I have struggled! To have a child with TS is very hard difficult as you don't know what to expect at first and tics change frequently so you never know what is coming next.

Trying to explain TS to a child as young as my son ( he started aged 6 and was diagnosed aged 7) is a mine field. He knows and accepts he has TS and explains it as just things his brain makes his body do and that it's not actually him doing it which I think it a pretty good way of summing it up .

He also has very bad OCD and Aspergers plus ADHD. Funnily enough, he is very open about his TS, just coming to terms with his OCD but will NOT hear anything else.

If you still feel a bit in the dark why not take a look at TSA UK Website (http://www.tsa.org.uk) . There is alsorts of info on there.

Thanks for replying :)

Originally posted by FetishFairy
Lindseyw ... please don't worry!! You weren't at all rude.

If you still feel a bit in the dark why not take a look at TSA UK Website (http://www.tsa.org.uk) . There is alsorts of info on there.



Thanks hon :)

Originally posted by FetishFairy
So, did anyone else watch it?

If so, what did you think?

Enjoyed it very much, I have to agree with the wastefullness and voyueristic way in which it was put together.

How beyond belief putting a group of them into a potentially volatile situation, aparrently alone, in the Chicago City centre where their outbursts obviously attracted unwanted attention from aggreived ethnic passers by. Stupidty beyond the need.

What overshadowed the whole programme for me was the nasty little cow who deliberately picked on, bullied & manipulated the girl with weight issues.

As in everyday life the bully gets to stay & enjoy the camp & disco (ie/ rewarded) and the victim is victimised twice by being sent home.
Typical. :mad:

Originally posted by Don_Kiddick


What overshadowed the whole programme for me was the nasty little cow who deliberately picked on, bullied & manipulated the girl with weight issues.

As in everyday life the bully gets to stay & enjoy the camp & disco (ie/ rewarded) and the victim is victimised twice by being sent home.
Typical. :mad:

I did watch the program and read in the paper how the girl Jessica who seemed to be bullying the others and her mother were really upset about the way she was portrayed - they did squeeze a weeks worth of footage into an hour and a half - whilst they could have used to it show the problems they face in every day life etc, they seemed just to want to create some kind of Tourettes Hollyoaks :(

i really wanted to watch it,but we had a power cut!!!
:rant:

you may find this free dvd helpfull best of luck
http://www.ddat.co.uk/video.aspx?

I think its unfair for you all to pick on Jessica.

Yes I agree she wasn't a very nice person most of the time, especially towards Jen but she's 16. Most 16 year olds aren't nice anyway never mind those who have the mountain of problems Jess has.

I think Jens issues weren't connected to her Tourettes but to the fact that she was jealous of Jess.
Kids will be kids !

Anyway, I found the programme really interesting. The little nine year old american girl was just adorable.

Interesting documentary this one and I have to say I feel very sorry for people with Tourettes as it does make them stand out very visibly to other people and gives them major embarassment.. something that bothered me though- Jessica.

Erm, wasnt she supposed to have tourettes?
And why did it SUDDENLY dissapear halfway through the show?? Very weird I thought.
She has some issues that young lady and I hope she sorts herself out.

I thought Jen was a real mard arse to be fair- yes you have a problem love.. dont sit there sobbing about it and moaning and groaning about it- sort it out.

I especially enjoyed watching the american kid shouting Jen Gives Head! -- The look on her face was just priceless and I think that was the main reason why she didnt dance with him at the end of week dance.

I loved Michelle- the scottish lass, she has got balls that one and I wish her all the best for the future.

I wasnt too keen on the chav as well to be honest- the one that 'decided' to shout 'Twin Towers' as well while on the excursion.
I have doubts about that lad to be fair.

Another thing thats popped into my head- WHY is it the british kids that act like complete arses, when the american kids were so well behaved?

I've recorded this one onto DVD as well in case anyone wishes to watch it again at their leisure as it was a fantastic show.

Originally posted by Lea1979
I think its unfair for you all to pick on Jessica.

Yes I agree she wasn't a very nice person most of the time, especially towards Jen but she's 16. Most 16 year olds aren't nice anyway never mind those who have the mountain of problems Jess has.

I think Jens issues weren't connected to her Tourettes but to the fact that she was jealous of Jess.
Kids will be kids !

Anyway, I found the programme really interesting. The little nine year old american girl was just adorable.

:rolleyes: You've obviously never been bullied about your weight?

I watched it and thought it was more voyeuristic than informative.


I LOVED :love: Ben, the quieter boy, who did the gymnastics. he was so very dignified throughout, unlike some of the others I have to say. I did feel for the parents though - the mother of Jessica looked mortified sometimes at her outbursts - something that puzzled me as I would have thought she may be more used to it by now.

I agree that the USA kids were portrayed in a better light, but consoled myself with the fact that as the programme was about the UK kids they had been shown warts 'n' all whilst the US kids had more of a supporting role. Hope so anyway! I'm sure the American kids could be just as badly behaved given the right exposure.

Shame Jen had to be sent home though. That was mightily unfair and no reason was given as to why she had been chosen to go.

On the whole a disappointing programme in many ways and uncomfortable in many parts to watch. I don't think enough information was given about Tourette's sufferers in general and what help is available for people. As far as I remember there wasn't even a helpline number given at the end of the programme was there?

To try and answer a few things raised here, maybe taking a look at This thread on the TSA website (http://www.tsa.org.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?board=general;action=display;num=11363274 74) might answer a few questions.

Most of the young people involved in the programme or their parents have contributed and it makes very interesting reading.

As a parent of a TS child, I was dissapointed that it didn't show more of the coping strategies/therapy that was on offer to the kids. Myself and my son woukd have found this realy useful.

Angelus ............. people with Tourette's don't 'CHOOSE' to shout things out any more than you would choose to sneeze. It happens and they have little or no control over it. So you 'enjoyed' watching the american boy Kyle with his tic? Next you'll be telling us that you enjoy watching a blind person trying to cross a motorway.

MsBehaving....... I think Jenny chose to leave rather than being sent home. After the programme, the TSA website and phone number were displyed at the side of the screen in case anyone wanted further information. The site (of which I am already a member) was innundated with new people and some very positive comments were made.

With regard to Angelus's comments about the 'Chav'. His name is Sam and he is a wonderful young man. My son was really impressed and inspired by him and Sam has offered both his email and phone number to my son so he can get in touch to talk about his own Tourette's or just to chat of he ever feels down about it. Now does that kind of behaviour sound remotely 'chav like'? Just because he wears a baseball cap and trackies does not make him any less of a human being. As far as I am concerened, he is a very brave and selfless young man and we could do with a lot more like him.

Looking at the TSA web site it appears that most people with personal experience of Tourettes found the programme to be a positive thing.
I think maybe those of us who have mixed feelings about the programme are still in the early stages of understanding and see it from a different angle.
The TSA web site had a huge amount of visitors after the programme went out,and i think that proves how important it was for this to be shown on tv.
After reading the comments on the web site i have changed my mind about it being voyeuristic or just for entertainment and i hope the the snowball keeps rolling

Originally posted by Don_Kiddick
:rolleyes: You've obviously never been bullied about your weight?

What ? How is this comment relevant to anything I've said ?

Originally posted by FetishFairy
Angelus ............. people with Tourette's don't 'CHOOSE' to shout things out any more than you would choose to sneeze. It happens and they have little or no control over it. So you 'enjoyed' watching the american boy Kyle with his tic? Next you'll be telling us that you enjoy watching a blind person trying to cross a motorway.

With regard to Angelus's comments about the 'Chav'. His name is Sam and he is a wonderful young man. My son was really impressed and inspired by him and Sam has offered both his email and phone number to my son so he can get in touch to talk about his own Tourette's or just to chat of he ever feels down about it. Now does that kind of behaviour sound remotely 'chav like'? Just because he wears a baseball cap and trackies does not make him any less of a human being. As far as I am concerened, he is a very brave and selfless young man and we could do with a lot more like him.

I appear to have upset you FF- for that I do aplogise.

You are very true in what you say about people not choosing to shout out random words- all I am saying is that for the 2nd half of the show- Jessica's symptoms magically dissapeared and she no longer was shouting out?? I find it very strange that over a period of a week- the lass was cured.

I did enjoy Kyle shouting out that to Jen- because it put a smile on my face- not that I was was taking the mick out of the poor lad- but for him to come out with that and the look on Jen's face- priceless. AND no I would not like to see blind people cross a motorway and I shudder at the thought of it.

My comments about Sam:
Its a difficult one for me and I'm sure he is a nice bloke dont get me wrong- but I didnt like the fact that he started using the camp like a youth club with his '10 girls numbers' routine.
He was there for a reason- to get help and meet other people with his condition- not flaunt the fact that he had 'got off' with someone against camp rules!

His behaviour to your son is very commendable and I now think a lot better of him now that you have said this, so I think he has done his parents proud and you are very right, the world needs more people like him- just without all the 'got 10 numbers' routine- because that makes you look like a chav!

All the best to you fetishfairy and to your son as well for the new year!

I watched the program with interest as i knew a girl who had the same form of tourettes as your son FetishFairy. I thought, like you, that they would focus on the swearing etc. I was glad that they showed the other aspects and raised the point that many of the children also have ADHD and forms of autism as not many people know that.

However, I was shouting at the tv by the end. Jen, the 'girl with weight issues' was one of the most irritating children i've ever witnessed. And i've worked with some horrors. Just because she's over weight, that means people cannot be mean to her?? Rubbish! At the beginning of the show she went off in one of many crying fits and Jessica her 'bully' went after her to see if she was okay. Jen screamed at her to leave her alone. And she wonders why after that Jessica didn't want to know her?

Both children were nasty as hell to each other, as someone said earlier it's what children do. They'll both probably look back and regret things they did or said. But putting it all down to being about weight is ridiculous.

Originally posted by lexatron
However, I was shouting at the tv by the end. Jen, the 'girl with weight issues' was one of the most irritating children i've ever witnessed. And i've worked with some horrors. Just because she's over weight, that means people cannot be mean to her?? Rubbish! At the beginning of the show she went off in one of many crying fits and Jessica her 'bully' went after her to see if she was okay. Jen screamed at her to leave her alone. And she wonders why after that Jessica didn't want to know her?

Both children were nasty as hell to each other, as someone said earlier it's what children do. They'll both probably look back and regret things they did or said. But putting it all down to being about weight is ridiculous.

I agree with you about Jen, such a mardy lass and I'm not surprised she ended up falling out with Jessica.

At least Jessica tried to help her out when she was having one of her strops.

I found the programme very interesting,

I agree that it seeemed odd that Jess's tics certainly seemed to "vanish", early on in the programme. She did come across as a right royal brat. Both of those things, of course, might have been down to some judicious editing on the filmmakers' part (cos, let's face it, film has never been edited to make someone look bad, before, has it ???)

I was astounded to learn that there is a link to things like Aspergers and OCD with Tourettes, that was something I was not aware of.

I can't imagine what it must be like to cope with Tourettes, either as someone who manifests it, ot as the parent/ carer of the person manifesting it. (I don't like the word "victim of.." or "sufferer.." but I can't think of another way of describing it...)

My nephew has a form of autism, called Fragile X Syndrome, which causes the typical obsessions, and also causes him to have moderate learning difficulties, and that is hard enough to deal with.

PT