I understand what you guys are going through. My son started ticing at about 5. Also has add.
He is now 13 and doing very well in Junior high.
He takes 1/2 mg tenex in the morning and 1/2 in the evening for the tics and Adderall for his add. He is off meds for the summer.
I thought the same thing, how is my son going to function in school with his peers. Will they be cruel? I spent many nights lying awake thinking about this.
When I first found out that my little boy had tourettes it devistated me. I tried to stop him from doing it. The more I tried to stop him the more he would do it.
As I learned more about it the less I would focus on it the less he would tic. The meds helped drastically to the point where I don't notice tics anymore.
Tics came and gone over the years, from eye blinking to throat clearing etc.
One very very important thing that all of you should know about. I had meeting with the school board and requested section 504. Section 504 is used for children with any disabilty to have the right to succeed in school with children without disablilities, without being held against him in any way. It could mean extra teacher prompting, longer time taken on tests if needed, If needed test could be taken in a quieter setting, the list goes on.
Remember with the help of medication, your child will be healthier emotionally because he is able to fit in with his peers and not feel different. With the help of section 504 there is extra assitance for getting a good education.
I wish you all the best of luck, your child will be fine with the proper medication and schooling and support from you.

Thanks for your replies! No, my son has not seen a ped. neurologist, we will make that our next step in the medical portion of this. I am certain he has Tourettes. He has gone through the throat clearing, hand sniffing, tounge clicking, eye blinking, etc. Each time a new tic appears the other disappears. And yes, I am certain that they are vocal/phonic tics. Although the hand sniffing falls into another category of tics, labled as simple motor. I am also wondering if you would mind describing the side effects of the Tenex and how your son has responded to it. I am glad to hear that is has worked so well for him, and allowed him to focus on school and building friendships. I hope to be able to find something for my son that will allow him to do the same. Thanks again!