Liam Clegg loves football and lacrosse. His athletic ability and love for sports has helped him manage his tics and Tourette’s syndrome, and along with his hard work at school, has led to an exciting opportunity: Handing out the game ball at a Cleveland Guardians game.
Liam’s hard work on and off the field stood out to Dr. Katrina Hermetet, pediatric psychologist at Akron Children’s and director of the Tic and Tourette Service, which is why she selected him for the honor at the 7th annual TIC Night Out event. 
In addition to handing out the game ball, Liam and his family were speakers at the event, which featured hundreds of Akron Children’s tics and Tourette’s patients as well as retired MLB player Jim Eisenreich. Jim was diagnosed with tics and Tourette’s at the start of his career with the Minnesota Twins and has been an advocate in the tics and Tourette’s community ever since.
Liam’s journey with tics and Tourette’s began when he was a toddler getting ready to start school.
“We were getting ready to go on vacation, prepping him for preschool and that’s when he started ticking,” said his mom Megan. “It was going to be a big change for him. We usually see an increase in tics when Liam’s routine changes.”
Liam’s dad also has Tourette’s so what was happening with Liam wasn’t foreign to the family. Because they knew about the syndrome, Liam’s family decided to keep an eye on him and see how things played out. When his tics became worse, his family decided to seek help at Akron Children’s Hospital.
What is Tourette’s Syndrome?
Tourette’s Syndrome is a type of tic disorder. Tic disorders are neurological disorders that typically begin in childhood. Tics can be motor, vocal or both. To be diagnosed with Tourette’s Syndrome, someone must have at least two motor tics and one vocal tic that wax and wane over the period of at least a year.
For most people, symptoms of Tourette’s Syndrome and tic disorders begin between 5 and 7 years old. Tics usually start out in the head or neck region, with an increase in tic frequency or severity happening between ages 8 and 12. As they get older, most people see a decrease in the severity of their tics.
Motor tics
Motor tics are movements and can include things like eye blinking, jaw movements, shoulder shrugging, arm jerking and more. More complex motor tics like jumping, twirling or hopping can also occur.
Vocal tics
Vocal tics are sounds. Though most people think shouting words is the most common type of vocal tic, most people don’t experience this kind of tic. Vocal tics commonly appear as sniffing, grunting, throat clearing, hooting and shouting. Complex vocal tics appear as the saying or shouting of words or phrases out of context.
Liam’s family enrolled him in a therapy program — Comprehensive Behavioral Intervention for Tics, or CBIT — run by Dr. Hermetet.
“We’ve learned so many things with Dr. Hermetet,” said Megan. “The CBIT program helps both my husband and I, and Liam, learn about why he is the way that he is, why his body forces him to do things that are outside of his control, and how we can help him manage those in everyday life.”
Anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder symptoms can also go along with tics and Tourette’s.
When Liam has a particularly anxious day, he uses the coping skills taught by Dr. Hermetet, and he talks to his parents about how he is feeling. His love of sports has played an important role in helping him cope, too.
“With football, he’s able to channel all his frustration and struggles, and he’s an amazing football player. It’s really great to watch him out there with his confidence, and see how much he loves it and how much he puts into it. And I think it is somewhat of release for him,” said Megan.
Liam’s journey with tics and Tourette’s doesn’t end now that he’s completed the CBIT program. He wants to make a difference and has been selected as a junior ambassador for tics and Tourette’s where he’ll have to opportunity to advocate for himself and other patients in Washington DC.
Liam credits his hard work and his family for helping him cope with his tics and Tourette’s.
“Sometimes I’ll just be really upset about it. I don’t like having Tourette’s, and it’s not something I wanted to be born with. Thankfully, I have my dad, who also has Tourette’s and has helped me go through it. He is one of the biggest reasons why I’m able to live like this and be happy,” he said.
Liam wants people to know more about tics and Tourette’s, so that if they see someone tic’ing, they understand what’s happening.
“They should know a little bit more about it, so they don’t have to worry about them,” he said.
Megan and the rest of Liam’s family appreciate the support they’ve received from Akron Children’s as Liam has grown.
“They’re just an amazing support system. They’re there to listen to us. They’re here whenever we need them. I can always send them a message, make a phone call and say hey, we’re struggling. Dr. Hermetet will schedule a few” booster” sessions, and we’re able to give him help right away as we help him manage those symptoms almost immediately!’” Megan said.
If you’re concerned about your child’s tics or think they are developing symptoms of Tourette’s syndrome, talk to their pediatrician. Ready to make an appointment with Akron Children’s? Find a pediatrician and make an appointment here.
