What does Tourette Syndrome have to do with Oldies trivia?

What is Tourette Syndrome and why is she donating her book sale profits to The Tourette Syndrome Association?

Hi. Thanks for taking the time to click over here. :)

I'm Barb Jastrab, the author of The Oldies Music Aptitude Test. :) First let me answer What is Tourette Syndrome.

Tourette Syndrome is a neurological disorder that causes uncontrolled movements and vocalizations. These are called tics . Onset usually occurs during childhood. At this time, there is no cure. Powerful neuroleptic medications can help some children some of the time, but the side effects are often worse than the symptoms themselves, and the long term effects on children are unknown.

My youngest son was diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome (TS) in August 1999, the same week this book was published. At the time, I found this to be an absolutely devastating diagnosis, because although most children's tics tend to get better over time, for others, it is a lifelong condition, and the severity of tics and the duration of symptoms can never be predicted.

As parents, our instincts are to protect our children, kiss their boo-boos and make things "OK." With TS, there is not much that a parent can do to help alleviate the symptoms. We can only hug our children and assure them that in spite of the pain of the taunts from peers and others who don't understand their movements or sounds, that they are otherwise wonderful, "regular" kids.

Perhaps it was kismet that my son's diagnosis and this book's publication occurred practically simultaneously, because it was through my frustration in not being able to help my son that I had this idea...
What if... in some small way I can help raise funds for the scientists and researchers find a cure for TS?

I then vowed to donate profits from the sale of my book to the Tourette Syndrome Association.

You can be assured should you decide to purchase my book, I will be following through on that promise. :)

For more information about Tourette Syndrome, see the official national site: Tourette Syndrome Association, Inc.