Seth McKinley, a 12-year-old from Spring Hill, has found an ally in his battle with Tourette's Syndrome and ADHD.
By FRANK PASTOR
Published August 31, 2003
To the untrained ear, they are nothing more than sighs, barely audible above the spoken instructions or labored breathing of others in the room.
But to Lorie McKinley, they're signs of trouble.
"Those are minor tics," McKinley says, as she watches her 12-year-old son, Seth, stretch for his Forms class at Tae Kwon Do America in Spring Hill.
The tics, or uncontrollable vocal sounds, often disappear for weeks or months at a time. But when they return, there is little McKinley or her son can do about them.
"He tries to control it," McKinley said. "But when it's bad, there's no controlling it."
Seth was born with Tourette's Syndrome and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, neurological disorders that sometimes make him exciteable, distracted or unintentionally vocal.
The symptoms are most prevalent when he feels stress.
On at least one occasion, Seth had trouble breathing and had to see a cardiologist.
The family was told Seth's breathing problems might be a result of panic attacks or his efforts to hold back the tics.
At first, Seth was embarrassed and frustrated by the noises or others' reactions to them. In time, he learned there was nothing he could do about them.
"He's had times where it's been bad and he's had people stare at him, turn their heads and comment to him, "What's wrong with you?"' McKinley said.
"He's dealt with it pretty well. He'll tell them, "I have Tourette's, and it's something I can't control."'
Recently, Seth's family found something that helps control his tics: Tae Kwon Do.
Since he started practicing the martial art about eight months ago, Seth has noticed less nervousness and boredom and a better ability to concentrate and focus.
He has made so much progress that his neurologist sent a letter to the McKinley's insurance company asking it to pay for his classes.
Most importantly, Seth has found something he enjoys.
"It's fun," Seth said, "and something to do after school."
Seth's parents use his love for Tae Kwon Do as an incentive for him to do well in school. When he got lazy with his homework, his mother made a deal with him.
"If I didn't get my grades up," Seth said, "I can't test (for his belt)."
National berth
Seth recently earned a green belt - his third, following white and yellow - and qualified for the AAU national tournament after placing first in his class in Sparring at the state tourney.
In October, he plans to compete in Sparring and Forms at a three-day martial arts festival in Orlando.
Though Seth was born with Tourette's, the symptoms didn't reveal themselves until he was 8 months old.
After giving him Aderol for hyperactivity, his parents noticed that Seth sometimes coughed, chirped or barked for no apparent reason. On rare occasions, he jerked his neck.
When Seth's mother and adoptive father, Derek, went online in search of answers, they found that Seth had all the symptoms of Tourette's. He has been seeing a neurologist since.
"It was more emotional for him - "Why does God have to give me this,' or "I hate this,"' Seth's mother said. "He doesn't like that he has it.
"I try to explain to him that God gave him that, and he has to learn to deal with it.
"Just because he has it doesn't mean he is below anyone else," she said. "He can do basically anything."
Seth takes a couple of Exceptional Student Education classes because one-one-one instruction keeps him from getting distracted or distracting others. But, otherwise, he lives much like his classmates.
Seth likes PlayStation, Yu-Gi-Oh! cards and playing football and basketball with friends.
He feeds and cleans the pet hamster in his room and likes to show his 4-year-old sister, Mariah, what he has learned in Tae Kwon Do class.
Seth's parents started him in the sport when he was 5, and he promptly won a gold medal in Sparring.
But he had difficulty staying focused, and his parents pulled him out of the classes.
For years, he begged his parents to put him back. In January, they relented, following the recommendation of a doctor.
Seth trains with Brian Schneider, a third-degree blackbelt who owns Tae Kwon Do America and is attempting to compete in the Summer Olympic Games in Athens in 2004.
"It's been great," Schneider said. "Just to be able to help an individual that has a mild setback and then watch them achieve their goals as they set them is incredible.
"All I can do is instruct. It's Seth's job to put out, and he's achieved everything so far he's wanted to do."
Olympic hopeful
Schneider said he didn't have any reservations about taking on Seth as a student.
"Once I found out there were no health risks as far as he goes, I was comfortable as far as pushing him to the limit," Schneider said.
Seth said his goal is to become "the best there is."
In time, he would like to compete in the Olympics, perform Tae Kwon Do stunts or open his own Tae Kwon Do school.
There is a chance his condition could get worse. The onset of puberty often exacerbates the symptoms.
On the other hand, there is the possibility Seth could outgrow the problem.
With no immediate answers, he plans simply to continue doing what he enjoys most.
"Just to see Seth happy and doing something that he really likes and doing it well is great," his mother said.
"There have been times where you sit there and just look at him and wish that you had the Tourette's instead of him, because it's so miserable watching him and it's tiring, I'm sure, too.
"So, just knowing he's good at something and can do it well has made it great."
- Frank Pastor can be reached at 800 333-7505, ext. 1430. Send e-mail to pastor@sptimes.com
WHAT IS ...
... TOURETTE'S SYNDROME? An inherited, neurological disorder characterized by repeated and involuntary body movements (tics) and uncontrollable vocal sounds. Involuntary symptoms can include eye blinking, repeated throat clearing or sniffing, arm thrusting, kicking movements, shoulder shrugging or jumping. Symptoms typically appear before the age of 18. The condition occurs in all ethnic groups, with males affected 3-4 times more often than females. Though the symptoms vary from person to person and range from mild to severe, the majority of cases fall into the mild category. Associated conditions can include attention problems, impulsiveness and learning disabilities. Most people with Tourette's lead productive lives and participate in all professions.
... ADHD? Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder generally is considered to be a neurobiological disorder. It's characterized by the inability to sustain focused attention and hyperactivity.
... TAE KWON DO? The world's most widely practiced martial art, Tae Kwon Do is an Olympic sport, artistic discipline and way of life. Its tenets include courtesy, integrity, perseverance, self-control and indomitable spirit. Tae Kwon Do teaches mental and physical self discipline, real self defense, speed and power.
- Sources: Tourette Syndrome Association, Inc.; ADHD.com; The Tae Kwon Do Network.
