Fw: American Idol Finalist Durbin Defies Tourette Syndrome and Asperger's

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http://health.yahoo.net/experts/dayinhealth/american-idol-finalist-james-durbin-defies-tourette-syndrome-aspergersAmerican Idol Finalist Durbin Defies Tourette Syndrome and Asperger's Durbin, the American

Idol contestant often compared to Adam Lambert for his heavy metal edge and

high-pitched wail, literally dazzled viewers—and the judges—March 16th with

on-stage pyrotechnics during his rendition of Jon Bon Jovi’s power ballad, “I’ll

be There for You.†Along with his flashy showmanship, the 22-year-old rocker

from Santa Cruz, California has an inner fire that has propelled him to the top

11 so far in the competition, despite the challenges of battling two often

misunderstood disorders: Asperger syndrome and Tourette syndrome. At age 9, Durbin lost his father, a musician, to a drug

overdose. After his dad’s death, he was put on medication for stress and a

sleep disorder, then was evaluated at Stanford Medical Center, where he was

diagnosed with Asperger syndrome (AS), a high functioning form of autism, and

with Tourette syndrome (TS). “As I was getting older, at school people would

tell me, ‘Cut that out! Stop that!’ …I always got made fun of, beat up,†Durbin

recently told Idol viewers, adding that when he sings, “it all just goes away,

like I don’t have a care in the world.â€

Dan Ackroyd is another celebrity who has both conditions,

which frequently occur together and are three to four times more likely to

strike males than females. The two disorders are thought to have genetic

component, and researchers recently discovered a gene for a neurological

syndrome that includes autistic

behaviors. If inherited

factors trigger AS and TS, that could be a concern for Durbin, who has a

toddler son with his fiancée, Heidi.Check out this research suggesting the role of genetic testing in autism.

Although involuntary swearing (coprolalia) is the best-known

symptom of Tourette

syndrome, only a small minority of people with TS have this problem. The

condition, which affects about one in 100 Americans, is a neurological disorder

that triggers involuntary movements and vocal outbursts called tics. These

symptoms often start between ages 7 and 10 and tend to be worst during the teen

years.On Idol, Durbin has shown such characteristic symptoms as blinking and

facial twitches. Another Idol contestant reportedly affected by TS is Arkansas’

Dave Pittman who appeared on season 9. For a detailed explanation of Tourette syndrome, click on this video.

Other TS symptoms include grimacing, head or shoulder

jerking, repetitive throat clearing, hopping, grunting, and barking. About

200,000 Americans have a severe form of TS that may spark self-injury, such as

people punching themselves in the face, uttering swear words, and compulsively repeating

the words and phrases of others. Some people with TS can learn to camouflage

their tics. Most don’t need medication, but drugs may be prescribed if the tics

are severe enough to interfere with daily activities.

Asperger

syndrome is a developmental disorder that can cause repetitive rituals,

obsessions, oddities of speech, such as talking in a monotone, shouting or

taking figures of speech literally, eccentric behavior and inappropriate facial

expressions, trouble connecting with peers, and clumsy movements. It affects

about one in 5,000 Americans and is associated with normal intelligence. There

is no single treatment, but kids with Asperger syndrome can benefit from social

skills training, cognitive behaviorial therapy, medication for co-existing

problems like depression or anxiety, speech therapy and support from parents

and teachers. Many adults with AS hold jobs, though Durbin is unemployed and

prior to being on the show, was so broke that at times, he and his fiancée

couldn’t afford diapers for their toddler.Learn to recognize symptoms of mental health disorders, such as ADHD in kids.

“The thing about Asperger’s is that it’s about social

awkwardness and not being able to contain yourself and being overwhelmed…â€

Durbin said on Idol. He is one of the most emotional contestants, known for

crying easily. Still, despite his

disabilities, he has connected so well with judges Randy ,

, and Tyler that they deem him one of the competition’s

frontrunners. “I have Tourette’s and Asperger’s, but Tourette’s and Asperger’s

don’t have me,†he declared in an Idol interview. “I’m doing what I can to

suppress it. It’s not who I am.â€Photo: Getty ImagesFollow Yahoo! Health on Facebook. Sharon