[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 47 (Monday, April 4, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E623]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    RECOGNIZING THOSE WITH TOURETTE SYNDROME ON THE OCCASION OF THE 
          TOURETTE SYNDROME ASSOCIATION'S ANNUAL ADVOCACY DAY

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. STEVE ISRAEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, April 4, 2011

  Mr. ISRAEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize those with 
Tourette Syndrome on the occasion of the Tourette Syndrome 
Association's annual National Advocacy Day, which was Thursday, March 
31, 2011.
  Tourette Syndrome is a neurobiological disorder characterized by 
involuntary tics. It often goes undiagnosed, but the Association 
estimates that some 200,000 people in the United States are known to 
have the disorder. No definite cause has been found, but research 
points to abnormal metabolism of a key brain hormone, spurred by a gene 
that is likely inherited. There is about a 50% chance of a parent with 
Tourette Syndrome passing it along to their child and sons are three 
times more likely than daughters to exhibit symptoms of Tourette 
Syndrome.
  On Thursday I met with a young man from my district, Jared Bloch, who 
passed along a letter written by his brother Tyler, who suffers from 
Tourette Syndrome. Below is the text of the letter, but I wanted to 
quote one part: ``I love myself no matter who I am. Tourette's is an 
obstacle I can overcome and it helped me become a much better person.'' 
Tyler is wise beyond his 12 years. I hope he can serve as a role model 
for those with Tourette Syndrome and I hope his family can serve as an 
inspiration for all of those who know someone with Tourette Syndrome.

       Hello. My name is Tyler Bloch, I am 12 years old, and my 
     brother (Jared Bloch) is one of the ambassadors you talked or 
     will talk to. I was diagnosed with Tourette's syndrome in 2nd 
     grade and currently I am in the 7th grade. The main reason I 
     am writing this letter is because I wanted to tell you how TS 
     affects my life and how it affects others.
       Throughout elementary school and middle school I was always 
     questioned. ``Why do you do that?'' ``Why do you twitch like 
     that?'' The only response I could say was, ``I don't know.'' 
     I was always afraid to tell people about my condition because 
     I thought people would laugh. Although TS does not affect my 
     academics, it affects my self control. I would always have 
     the urge to rant at the top of my lungs, but I couldn't. 
     Every day I had to wait until I return home to get my 
     energies and tics out.
       My family has a tough time coping with all the mayhem in 
     the house, but they try their best to ignore my loudness and 
     annoyingness. Once a week I would see a psychiatrist and or a 
     psychologist to try to help me. It is very hard to try to 
     find a local and experienced psychologist that could help me. 
     My mom always tries her best to find one. I would never 
     really want to go, but I had to in order to help my family 
     and me. I always feel horrible for my family because I tend 
     to be very annoying. I clap loudly; yell loudly, get 
     distracted, worry, and all these things are very harsh on my 
     family.
       I never mean any of these annoying behaviors, but that was 
     the way I was built. Nothing can stop it. On the bright side, 
     Tourette's eventually goes away, but for now I will have to 
     try to do my best.
       This program means a lot to me and I appreciate all your 
     hard work and dedication to the TSA. Thank you so much and 
     you have no idea how this makes me feel. It shows that there 
     is hope and that other people care. I could not ask for a 
     better family. They love me, always try their best to help 
     me, make me laugh, and that is the perfect combination of a 
     well-rounded family. I love myself no matter who I am. 
     Tourette's is an obstacle I can overcome and it helped me 
     become a much better person. Without TS I would not be the 
     person I am today so this condition makes me myself and there 
     is nothing I would change about that.
           Sincerely,
     Tyler S. Bloch.

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