Oak Park boys faces a tough battle
Suzanne Robson
05May08
Oak Park's Scott Coward with his son Ben who has Tourettes Syndrome. Picture: KYLIE ELSE
BEN Coward swears, spits and makes rude hand gestures. But these are not the actions of a rebellious child.
The 11-year-old from Oak Park lives with Tourette syndrome and these behaviours, called tics, are major symptoms of the neurological disorder.
He is a happy and easygoing boy, but Ben knows how hard battling the anti-social tics can be.
"You put up the rude finger and you can't help it," Ben said.
This week is Tourette Awareness Week. Ben's father, Scott, said he became president of the Tourette Syndrome Association of Victoria after seeing the challenges his son faced. "He is fighting to suppress his tics but it leaves him completely knackered," he said.
Mr Coward said his son was diagnosed with a developmental disorder in kindergarten, but after he did his own research online he discovered it was more likely that his son had Tourette syndrome.
"I came up with information on tics and I thought they are all the things Ben displays," he said.
The next day Mr Coward contacted the Tourette Syndrome Association of Victoria, which suggested he have Ben tested.
Like many with the condition, Ben also suffers from attention-deficit disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, behaviour problems and audio processing problems. He has recently started at the Hume Valley School after life at a mainstream primary school became too tough.
Mr Coward said they were lucky Ben had such good social skills and a wide network of friends.
The Craigieburn Eagles senior men's basketball team has made Ben a surrogate member.
"We go there now and it is a relief because everyone knows him and there is no having to explain or excuse," said his mother, Jenny.
"They just welcomed him with open arms."
For more information contact the Tourette Syndrome Association of Victoria on 9845 2777 or www.tsavic.org.au
