Tourette's Syndrome - Let The 'Hichki' Not Be A Hitch To A Successful Career!

Let’s face it! Nothing gets us more excited than watching a character who faces several roadblocks, fights several hurdles to help underprivileged children become part of society. This movie “Hichki” is about a young woman who suffers from Tourette’s syndrome and fights against all odds to become the teacher she always knew she wanted to be.

Providing viewers with a wonderful story about the roller coaster of emotions that the protagonist goes through, the makers put the focus on Tourette’s syndrome, the stigma associated with it and the emotions of a person suffering from it goes through. While coming to terms with such a syndrome is one’s struggle, the uphill task is to get people around them to accept it!

Understanding What Is Tourette’s Syndrome

Tourette’s syndrome is attributed to involuntary and repetitive movements and sounds produced in a body. These are uncontrollable actions and at present approximately 1 million people in India suffer from this syndrome. It is neurological problem, first diagnosed by Dr. Georges Gilles De La Tourette in 1885 in a 86-year old French woman.

It is a chronic condition where symptoms can occur as early as in a 3-years old. While the most severe symptoms are presented in the teen years, most of these symptoms improve during the late teens and into adulthood.

Symptoms:

Generally, the involuntary movements also known as tics are classified as simple and complex.

1. Simple: As far as the basic version of this condition is concerned, you will find that it is limited to sudden and jerky movements associated with certain muscle groups. For instance, the simple tics include eye blinking, shrugging, facial grimacing, and vocalizations. The vocalization can be in form of grunting, sniffling or throat clearing where the condition is mild.

2. Complex: The motor tics in the complex version of this condition may include head twists, violent shoulder shrugs, hops, bending, twisting or even touching objects. As far as the vocalizations go, it may include words and phrases while the dramatic symptoms may present the person using cuss words as well.

Implications and Treatment:

One positive thing associated with this syndrome is that it doesn’t cause an impairment and therefore there is no medication prescribed for it. Tourette’s syndrome does not affect one’s intelligence and hence it need not stop people from seeking a career of their choice.

However, the biggest concern of people affected by it is the social acceptance of their condition.

Also, those who are suffering from it must be provided with an ideal, tolerant and compassionate set-up where they are encouraged to work and learn to their full potential.

Further, as tic symptoms often do not cause an impairment, a majority of people suffering from it do not require any medication for tic suppression. However, effective medications are available for those whose symptoms interfere with their day-to-day functioning. Neuroleptics (drugs that may be used to treat psychotic and non-psychotic disorders) are the most consistently useful medications for tic suppression.

'Hichki' is a thought-provoking story about a young girl suffering from Tourette’s Syndrome who dreams of becoming a teacher. She faces the challenge head-on, triumphs her way into our hearts!" 

In case you have a concern or query you can always consult an expert & get answers to your questions!