Katharina Buczek
The trial revealed that individuals who received active stimulation saw a significant reduction in tic frequency and severity. In fact, tic frequency was reduced by an average of over 25% while receiving stimulation.
Then, after the device was used for four weeks, participants who received active stimulation saw over a 35% reduction in tic severity. And in total, about 59% of the participants who received active stimulation saw at least a 25% reduction in tic severity compared to baseline.
One of the participants was a 13-year-old boy named Mylo, whose parents picked up on some unusual symptoms during toddlerhood. But, Mylo was not diagnosed with TS until age 10, and according to him, the device was straightforward.
“The device was easy to use,” Mylo explained.
“You strap it on like a watch and press a button to start it. You have to make sure the pads are on the back properly; otherwise, it might hurt a tiny bit. When the stimulation occurs, it feels a bit like a fizzing on my wrist and forearm. Not painful, just a bit different.”
The 13-year-old also claimed that the device “definitely” helped reduce the frequency of his tics and looks forward to getting it once it becomes commercially available.
“I think it can help people with Tourette’s in different ways. For me, I would use it if I was going to the cinema or the theatre– places where you sometimes have to be quiet or still, so you don’t disturb people,” Mylo said.
“Tourette’s can be really exhausting sometimes, like when you have a tic attack and can’t get a break from it. This device could really help with that.”
Mylo’s mother, Alex, is also hopeful about the device’s capabilities. She detailed how she is unsure how her son’s TS will progress as he ages. Regardless, she called the device “a great safety net” that could help Mylo whenever he needed it.
“I would also say that the device might not be for everyone. If you are accepting of your tics and they don’t impact your life, you might not want or need it,” Alex noted.
“But for those people that really struggle, I believe it will make a significant impact with daily challenges. We feel really lucky to have taken part in the trial.”
