By Joe McCann
AN 11 year-old Newtownards boy has spoken poignantly about what it is like to live with a complex neurological condition in a bid to challenge stigma and help others better understand the condition.
Logan Melville was diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome last year, a condition that can cause severe involuntary movements and unexpected and often inappropriate verbal outbursts that can cause embarrassment and upset.
After his diagnosis Logan wrote a letter initially for his friends and family after he was unable to attend school due to exhaustion caused by his symptoms.
His mother, Lynn Denver, said her son has a number of additional needs but is highly articulate and able to express himself with maturity.
“Logan has a very high functioning form of autism and ADHD,” she said. “He uses very intelligent language and speaks very well for his age. Previously at school, Logan was put into an autistic unit but he’s now grown out of it.”
She said difficulties at school last year led to further assessments and eventually a diagnosis of Tourettes. Logan is about to go into year eight at school.
“Last year we had a bit of a problem in school where Logan would make a bit of a noise and also make strange movements and it took us some time in getting his Tourettes diagnosed,” said his mum.
“In the summer of 2025 it got so bad and Logan’s involuntary movements went beyond something like an eye twitch or a hand movement and they got to the point where they would be mimicking Parkinson’s on a good day.”
Logan has also been diagnosed with coprolalia, a symptom experienced by a minority of people with Tourettes. Coprolalia involves saying inappropriate words or phrases and is often the aspect of illness most misrepresented in public understanding.
Ms Denver said her son’s other symptoms with Tourettes can cause severe involuntary movements that have begun to really affect his life.
“On a bad day he can bang his head on the sink while brushing his teeth,” she said.
“He has also been diagnosed as having coprolalia which is where you say inappropriate things. However it is the involuntary movements which affect Logan the most and they continue at night even when he is trying to sleep and means he hardly gets any sleep, sometimes only a few hours at night.”
The lack of sleep has had a direct impact on his education. His mother said getting to his current school involves a long daily journey, which can be unmanageable when his symptoms are particularly intense.
Ms Denver said Logan wrote the letter after being home from school one day after a particularly bad episode which left him exhausted.
She said: “The other week Logan wasn’t well enough for school so I asked him to do a few projects for me during the day and I asked if he wanted to write about what it’s like to live with Tourettes from his own perspective.
“After he wrote it he sent it out to friends and family to help them understand and for other people to get help if they suffer with it too.
“He really wants to tackle the stigma and help people understand the condition because he has been shouted at in shops and when we are out people often stop and stare at him in the street or give him dirty looks when it flares up.”
“I want people to understand that this is not who I am, it is part of my condition.
“I know people notice my movements and my words, and I am very aware of it. Even know I try my best to cope, it can be hard when people don’t even understand what Tourettes really is.
“When I was first diagnosed, I found it very hard to accept. Now I understand that Tourettes does not define me.
“I am not Tourettes – I am Logan. I am learning how to live with it and I am doing my best every day.” – Logan Melville, 11
Ms Denver said Logan’s experiences in public have been difficult, particularly during severe episodes.
“We have a sense of humour about it in the house, you have to have one and I understand that when a sudden loud noise or disturbance is made in public that people will naturally turn around and look.
“But what Logan wanted to address through his letter was the people who continually stare or have disgusted looks on their faces or who are sniggering or telling him off for his condition.
“Unfortunately Logan still faces this stigma,” said Ms Denver.
“At 11 years old he navigates a world of judgement with a level of dignity and patience that most adults haven’t mastered.”
However, the family are looking positively towards the future and Logan is hoping to attend a mainstream school in Newtownards next year.
He has recently attended several open days and has shared his letter with them to help staff and students understand his condition.
