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.