LIFE

Understanding illness

Life, Suwitcha Chaiyong, Published on 15/02/2021

» Nine-year-old Otto has an illness that causes him to experience uncontrollable twitches and compulsive swearing. He was diagnosed by a psychiatrist with Tourette syndrome, which causes tics. Otto's tics started after his father abandoned him and he had to live with his grandma. At school, Otto was bullied by classmates and had to move to three different schools. The boy was treated by psychiatrist Dr Stephen Stone and psychologist Lisa Yodmon at Barnette Hospital in London.