ADHD Books

This is a truely outstanding book by a world leading authority in his field.Any parent with an autistic child would find this book valuable especially in relation to the effect of different diets on the development of autistic children.He also covers ADHD,Asthma and Allergies

Our sons Dr. reccomended reading this book after our first visit and WOW, I could not put it down. It makes sense of autism and why it is causing so many problems in so many children. I have since bought another copy for someone and plan to buy more this is a MUST read!!!!

I was able to improve my son's asthma within a few weeks of implementing these steps, after a year of failed medical interventions. Thanks so much!

I had heard about biomedical approaches to treating autism, but I had no idea of the links with asthma, ADHD, and allergies. Suddenly, my autistic, asthmatic, allergic kid made sense. I started on the program recommended in this book and my kid changed totally. I concocted a blend of supplements and diet interventions and I saw a change within weeks. I later started with a DAN doctor to tweak my program, but this was the best 20 bucks I ever spent!

With all the five-star reviews on this book, perhaps I set my expectations too high. On the plus side, Dr. Bock's after-the-fact suggestions are undoubtedly helpful, although he handicaps any solution by common myths.

Firstly, he repeatedly attacks saturated fats (e.g., Page 178, "Similarly, it's important to avoid foods that are pro-inflammatory, such as the trans-fatty acids found in margarine and other saturated fats.") Per Julie Matthews, a renowned expert on autism nutrition, "Clinical research shows that both saturated fat and cholesterol are essential for growth in babies, especially for healthy brain development" and "[There have been] decades of incorrect nutrition information on fats fed to the public by almost all mainstream nutrition sources".

Clearly, the problem is that Dr. Bock is one of sources of disinformation. This disinformation leads inevitably to mothers on bagel and fruit fat-free diets; then, made unable to breastfeed, with the blessings of their pediatricians, they give harmful omega-6 loaded soy based formulas to their infants; and finally they ween their children to cereal and fruit juice centric diets. (Dr. Bock missed the fact that the increasing levels of gluten in today's popular wheat varieties contribute to the timing of these epidemics. And, he missed the fact that the excess omega-6 fats in soy-based formula are often harmful to the liver and thus impair digestion.)

Anyhow, the saturated fat scare that Dr. Bock repeats may be the most significant root cause of the autism epidemic. Firstly, the necessary fats are mostly absent, and secondly the grains wreck the gut, making the children particularly vulnerable to toxins that healthy guts easily chelate. (And the high blood glucose and insulin levels caused by the carbohydrate intensive diet are damaging as well).

Another missed factor is massive vitamin D deficiency from these poor sources of vitamin D (i.e., grains, fruit, and juices) coupled with the doctor supported sun scare (see the Vitamin D Council's papers on autism to understand the connection). And, the vitamin D deficiency contributes to the chelation problem, as well. While Dr. Bock gives a little attention to vitamin D, his recommended dosage is one tenth of being adequate to remedy the deficiency, per the best experts on Vitamin D.

Instead of recognizing the saturated fat scare and the sun scare as significant causes of the autism (and other immune system disorders), Dr. Bock propagates myths about mercury levels (Page 18, "Our oceans are so full of poison, especially mercury, that it is now unsafe to eat more than one can of tuna per week.") From other sources, the reality is "there's considerable evidence that the amount of mercury in fish has remained the same (or even decreased) during the past 100 years." The mercury myth, of course, has further contributed to the self-chelation problem by contributing to a widespread iodine deficiency; iodine/iodide is a critical supplement (particularly nearly absent in a low seafood diet) that goes entirely unmentioned in this book.

When the root causes of autism are so badly misunderstood and instead blamed on (exaggerated) factors we largely cannot control (e.g., ocean pollution), it dooms millions of children to suffer from these and other immune system disorders. The good this book does (providing too rare sensible advice for victims of health disinformation) is more than offset by the disinformation it actually propagates.

Read this book, perhaps, for mostly credible information on supplements and drugs, but get your nutrition advice from the few trained nutritionists that actually understand nutrition, such as Julie Matthews, author of Nourishing Hope for Autism: Nutrition Intervention for Healing Our Children, (or perhaps doctors such as Michael R. Eades or John Briffa or Barry Groves). (Often, you may use their opinion on saturated fat as a litmus test of being enlightened.) Because of his ignorance of basics, I suggest mostly ignoring the root causes that Dr. Bock claims.

I read the book in one day. It was very engaging and I went through the whole array of emotions as I read it. Reliving alot of similar moments for I am a Mom with twin boys that have been diagnosed with ADHD. I love to read, however the books on ADHD that I have read have been of little value. As Robert shares his story and his perspective it helped me understand my boys even better. The book may not have all the answers, but it did share some of the discoveries that Robert made on his own. In order to find ways to improve their self esteem, it helps to understand how society tears it down. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to understand a person with ADHD traits.

This book was phenomenal!! It is the story of my life and I am glad I am not alone.
I encourage all adults who think or know that they have attention deficit to read this.
The book encouraged me to accept me for who I am and start my own chapter for ADHD in my own city.

The Little Monster: Growing Up With ADHD
The Little Monster by Robert Jergen is a great read! The book takes the reader inside the head of Dr. Jergen, who has ADHD, and lets the reader see and feel what is like to have ADHD. This story will both touch and delight you as you read it. Most importantly though, this book will both teach and give you hope whether you have ADHD or are a parent or teacher for someone who has ADHD. Dr. Jergen gives the reader workable solutions to everyday problems as well as other referral sources for parents and teachers. When Dr. Jergen entered into his doctoral program, he discovered and wrote this, "The question became, not how to "cure" my ADHD, but how to utilize it."

I found this book to be very useful in seeing the world from an ADHD child and adult's perspective. But the author seems to feel that the entire world needs to shift to accommodate what seems natural to him. It seems that everyone must tolerate and indeed celebrate behavior that makes life unpleasant and difficult for the non-ADHD person who has the bad luck to work with an ADHD adult.

I came away from the book feeling sad for ADHD children and their parents and their poor teachers who have delivered into their classrooms the "gift" of an uncontrolled child. And I am profoundly grateful that I don't work with an ADHD adult.

It would have been nice to read more about how the author tries to accommodate others and less about how the world must warp to fit him.

I highly recommend this book to parents, teachers and anyone interested in learning more about ADHD. I am actually currently taking my Masters in Special Education and this book was a wonderful source of information. It is a very powerful book where the author talks about his personal experience growing up with ADHD. All parents of kids with ADHD should read this book because after this experience they will definitely understand better their kids' behavior. I congratulate the author for sharing his personal experience and for showing through his writing how parents and teachers have a crucial role in developing kids' self - esteem

The book hit the nail on the head for me! It was as if Nancy Ratey, herself diagnosed with ADHD, was living inside my personal and business world. Nancy touches on the diagnoses and the misdiagnoses but does not delve into the actual treatment. She merely explores the many ways that people with ADHD can help themselves through coaching and self-coaching.

I have already loaned out this book to two friends and I'm planning to purchase another copy. When my son was diagnosed with ADD, I bought some books on the topic to help me understand how to help him succeed in life. I I found Nancy Ratey's book, The Disorganized Mind, and read it with interest. It is very well written, practical and keeps your attention. The coaching principles of this book have helped me to develop methods that are already producing strong results for me at home and work. I highly recommend!

If you are even looking this far -- just buy it. For the past 20+ years I have read everything I can get my hands on. Instead of boring explanations about why my brain works the way it does, this gives positive reinforcement and very concrete strategies. This book is for intelligent people who need a "jump start." I like that the author recognizes there are "different strokes for different folks" instead of lumping everybody together. There are 3 ADHD adults in my house and we each found good strategies that suited our different styles...that's a first.

I have not had any formal diagnosis of having ADHD (have 2 children that have), but after reading "the disorganized mind", I am certainly considering the possibility. As I gradually read through each chapter, I have had many "ah" type moments. I can identify with so many of Nancy Ratey's client examples. And this is why I would highly recommend this book. The way Nancy has chosen to write the book kept me curious from one chapter to the next and has helped me to understand I need to continue to learn more about ... the possibility of me and ADHD. Nancy defines ADHD using real people, real stories, their unique challenges, and the friends, loved ones and work colleagues affected by the ADHD behavior. Having ADHD herself, and having achieved a number of other very impressive credentials, I feel Nancy is certainly a credible authority on the topic. Although I hesitated to start reading this book at first thinking I would be getting a series of "how to" work book type exercises on how to deal with ADHD, I found that Nancy rather cleverly integrates solutions (self and/or outside "coaching" techniques) with the real live ADHD behavior. Confession; I have not followed any of her tips and techniques yet (maybe part of my ADHD, if I have it? :-) but I am more aware now and am ... considering ... much. I will follow her good advice to further educate myself. I have underlined many parts in her book and marked many pages. I'll plan to come back to reference these areas for inspiration and as a reminder/trigger. If you are like me and on a journey to better understand what ADHD is and how it can become a total positive force in your life, add Nancy's book to your library ... worth all 5 stars!

I pretty much buy every new book on ADHD that comes out, and this book is a waste of money!

It reads like a psychology text--all case studies. Snooze! Not ADHD friendly--all black and white, long text blocks, no illustrations.

Here's the advice in a nutshell: figure out what works for you (audible cues, notes, having people remind you) and repeat until it sticks. Find someone to help you (assuming you can afford to/live with someone willing/have employees) and "train" them to do what you need. If only real life were so easy!

With illustrations, 3 stars. The only reason this got 2 was because it is priced low.

Gina Pera has written a book that addresses so many of the questions that the spouse has related to their ADD partner. She uses the Roller Coaster metaphor perfectly throughout the book to explain the daily struggles and whip-lash inducing changes that both partners must face and address.
I'm fortunate that my husband is seeking treatment and working towards establishing some basic organizational parameters, but this book gave me guidance and direction in working with the specialist on the path to our 'new normal'.
I'd highly recommend this book to anyone trying to find answers to their spouses often mystifying behavior! Gina has done an excellent job sketching out the basics and then getting into the nitty-gritty things that it takes to make a ADD/non-ADD marriage work!
Too many people today still refuse to accept the legitimacy of ADD, especially in adults. It's wonderful that spouses now have a manual for themselves that is chalk full of actual clinical advice!

Finally! There is nothing else like this book on the market, nothing for the partner of an adult with ADHD. Yes, adult ADHD does affect the whole family. Up until now, this psychological dynamic has not been adequately addressed. Reading Gina Pera's book helps lift the fog and allows us to make sense of what has been such a mass of confusion and frustration. She not only educates us, but provides solutions and strategies. I wish I could give it more stars than five!

Judith

I don't understand why people support medicating as an answer for everything. This book is not balanced, and is very biased. It made me feel like I was reading literature from the pharmaceutical companies who produce medication for ADD & ADHD. Stay away from this book!

I felt like I was reading the story my life and it made me feel a bit more in control of the situation. My husband and 2 children have been diagnosed with ADD along with anxiety disorders, addiction, and depression. Distance, impulsiveness, chaos, tantrums, and very little sex, wow, it's not me! The book helps me to take a step back and not get so caught up in their drama, however, it still hurts. I especially had an a-ha moment when Ms. Pera talked about how at the beginning of the relationship with your spouse you are the center of his hyper focused world, and I have, in my head, spent 30 years hoping he would act like that again -not going to happen. Getting him on meds is easier said than done but I am working on it. Excellent book, I'm going to read it a second time.

She does a great job covering the critical areas of ADD/Relationships. It's good to read the perspective of the spouse - especially those who are not ADHD. My husband and I are both ADD (hyperactive/inattentive) and we've both gotten great nuggets of information.

As a Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist, I treat ADHD kids and teens on a daily basis. A large portion of the appointment is spent answering some very good questions. Dr. Ashlely has not only correctly identified many of those questions, but has also provided some very good answers. The first chapter covers many of the basics of ADHD. This is essential reading. She goes on to address important topics such as how to obtain an evaluation, homework, social skills, and even medications. The medication chapter is a good introduction to the topic. Near the end of the book in Appendix B, she provides a list of very helpful accomodations and modifications for school. This is a book that I recommend to my patients as an excellent reference.
Mohab Hanna, M.D. author of Making the Connection: A Parent's Guide to Medication in AD/HDMaking the Connection: A Parent's Guide to Medication in ADHDDriven To Distraction : Recognizing and Coping with Attention Deficit Disorder from Childhood Through AdulthoodTaking Charge of ADHD: The Complete, Authoritative Guide for Parents (Revised Edition)

The format of this book is clear and logical -- categories are broken into small one-or-two paragraph blurbs, and the information is easy to locate, digest, and remember.

The majority of the book addresses how to help your child get good results at school, at home, and in social situations. It's good information.

Everything you need to be familiar with regarding special education at your child's school, your child's legal rights, and getting your child the intervention he or she needs is spelled out. This book is designed to help you navigate through the technical jargon and legal processes for helping your child. ADD/ADHD children are entitled to special consideration; this book helps you figure out how to get it.

The information is recent; the book is published in 2005. I've been doing a personal research project on ADD/ADHD as a Sunday school teacher of 3-year-olds, so I have read about a half-dozen books on the topic, and it's nice to have the more recent developments and protocols.

Still, reading the book, I found it a little... distasteful. ADD/ADHD seems to be a giant step forward to an American future where the ratio of social workers to clients is 1:1.

This book made clear to me that ADD/ADHD is an umbrella disorder -- EVERYTHING is ADD/ADHD. ADHD encompasses almost all expected behaviors associated with childhood -- impulsivity, fidgeting, weird moods, interrupting, etc. The question becomes one of degree, and the frustration thresholds of the teachers and parents, I guess.

I'm also wondering how readily ADD may be confused with plain old introversion -- getting sluggish, frustrated, and dull-witted in a crowded classroom environment is natural for introverted children, who need lots of breaks and time away from the action to recharge their little batteries. So, how much of the *inattentive* type of ADD is overlapping with plain old introversion? I'm wondering this as an introvert myself, married to another introvert but raising an extraverted child (where did HE come from, we ask.). It's becoming clear to me how well-suited my son is for a typical classroom, and how kids who get an energy drain from being around other people are not as well-suited to an ordinary school day. For example, as an introvert, I come home from a half-day of helping out at school and need a two-hour nap to get readjusted. It's a major strain on my personality. /Shrug/ It makes me wonder.

I'm not comfortable with the broad, vague, generalness of ADD/ADHD. But if you are pursuing information about the disorder, then this would be a good book to look at.

If you're just not sure whether it's ADD... maybe try reading "Positive Discipline A-Z" by Jane Nelsen -- for parents and teachers of EVERY child. My next three research books are going to be "Strong-Willed Child or Dreamer?" by R.Braund; "The Hidden Gifts of the Introverted Child" by M. Olsen Laney; and "When the Labels Don't Fit" by B. Probst -- just to follow up on my hunch.

This book was very informative and straightforward. Dr. Ashely's style of writing was easy to follow and understand. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in answers for their own child as well as getting an understanding for any child you may know with this disorder.

I agree with the review above. I have not read it yet either. I am trying to decide if I want this book. I think the book sounds great except for the fact that I want unbiased information, not a book with an agenda of never medicating kids. I certainly do not want to medicate my son, but from what I have learned so far for some kids it can be very positive. My job is to determine if my son is one of them or not. It would be nice to have an informative book that gives both sides -- does this book do this?

I just bought this book with the intentions of reading it. I came to this site to see what other people think about the book. So far I have seen really good reviews on it. But what bothers me are those parents who stress that THEY WILL NOT medicate their child. As a mother I never ever wanted to take that route. I read alot of information to help him without medication. What foods he can eat and other helpful ways to help him without medicine, that was very difficult. Finally after he was almost kicked out of Preschool I took him to our school district and they evaluated him having ADHD. With their diagnosis they allowed him to attend preschool at no cost to me, to make him understand school rules. I also took him to our pediatrician, crying with the news of what they told me, I knew that medication was the only way to help him. Upset and depressed we went home. I started 2weeks before kindergarden and I have notice what a good kid he had become. Since then he has been more focus and attentive in class. He gets his moments when he distracts class but other than that he is doing good. He is very very smart, from what the teachers are telling me.

I was diagnosed with ADD even later in life than the author, so can relate to the struggles he went through, and the judgments from people who don't understand (including myself). My only negative criticism is that I wish he had put a little more emphasis on the fact that people with AD/HD vary a lot in the severity of their symptoms and the effect of this brain disorder on their lives. This is especially important for non AD/HD people who are seeking understanding.

This book was incredible. Bryan's story was almost identical to mine and he answered questions I've had about myself and my life that I've struggled with for years. He explained the why's of what somone with ADD does what they do and how they see, compensate and navigate through the world. This book was an extremely emotional read for me but left me with a very positive outlook and ideas on what steps to take to improve my life. A must read for anyone with or related to someone with ADD.

I came to know Mr. Bryan Hutchinson through some internet research I was doing on the topic of ADD, in particular in how it manifests itself in adults.

After prerusing his website and reading a sample chapter of the book, I 'bit.' After receiving the book in a timely manner from Amazon, I began to read it....

I could not put it down! The book is an easy read, and is more of a auto-biographical accounting of how the author has overcome some traumatic events in his life as a child, some genetic pre-dispositions, as well as some failed recognition by the public school system (of his condition).

The book also provides a healthy dose of excellent, practical tips that people can relate to -- because they are all couched in real-life stories, i.e. accounts from the author's life. The book is not scientific in nature, one learns from it by 'experiencing' how a young man overcame some tremendous obstacles to eventually reach a relatively healthy, well-balanced life.

In summary, I highly recommend this book to people personally struggling with ADD, as well as professionals who must treat them.

Joel Goodsen, Ph.D.

I vowed never to read another book on ADD/ADHD. I understood why the near genuis IQ, why I performed so poorly in school, told I was lazy and why I had trouble focusing. I read all about the different skills I needed to acquire to overcome this debilitating learning disorder. These books were all informative, providing valuable information for those with ADD/ADHD, their families and teachers.
Yet not one book served to provide an answer to what has always been disturbing me - that is until I read Mr. Hutchinson's book, "One Boy's Struggle. This is why I cherish this book and highly recommend it.
Reality never impressed me. Mr. Hutchinson agrees that the future holds an attraction which the past and the actual do not. We see life around the bend, beyond the horizon and like myself, he can speculate for hours about the possibilities. Complex ideas come to him as a complete whole,
unable to explain how he knows. We both agree that whatever is can be better or different, consequently experiencing a vague sense of restlessness. This kind of intuition defies rational explanation, yet this is how many of us view our world.
Praise is sweet but their can be no greater feeling than finding those who understand. Thank you for sharing your heartfelt story and alleviating the burden that I am not alone.

Bryan's memoirs are poignant, honest, and, at times, painful. He gives us a glimpse into his troubled childhood, the result largely of undiagnosed ADHD. We see, through his eyes, how children with ADHD struggle just to feel as though they fit in, how they yearn for nothing more than the approval of their parents and other adults - and yet, how everything they do (or don't do) makes that approval even harder to garner.

What I love about this book though, is how Bryan also shows us how he has overcome many of the obstacles that held him back as a child. He acknowledges the people in his life who helped him to realize his potential, and he gives hope to people with ADHD everywhere, that you really CAN succeed with ADHD - in the workplace, in relationships, in life. I came away from reading this book with a profound sense of hope and inspiration for my own future.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who has been diagnosed with ADHD, and to parents, spouses, and teachers of those with ADHD. Those with ADHD will instantly be able to relate to everything that Bryan writes... and those without ADHD will have a new insight into the struggles that ADDers face every day. Both will come away with hope for the future. Thank you, Bryan, for sharing your life with us in this way.

I head up a support group for members of the autism community who are interested in the dietary, nutritional, and biomedical treatment of autism. I also have an eleven year old son with autism, who has greatly benefited from these treatments. This book is a FABULOUS resource for the autism community. I have highly recommended it to all members of my group.

This book offers expert advice to help guide parents of children with autism-spectrum disorders (ASDs) so they can make the best decisions about their child's diet. Julie Matthews is a very knowledgeable nutritionist who specializes in all the ASD diets, not just one. I found the best part of her book to be Part 3 where she guides you step-by-step through an approach that helps you determine the best diet or combination of diets for your particular child. She tells you what's important to consider, and offers practical advice drawn from her experience as a nutrition consultant for many ASD clients. Most diet books only talk about one diet. But not this one. It discusses them all and how they can be used in combination if needed. This was extremely helpful to me because, after 4 years of dietary changes for my son, I had found that a combination of diets (or certain aspects of diets) was most helpful to him. This book was refreshing because no matter what the topic being discussed, it would comment on any issue of importance related to any or all of the ASD diets. In addition, the book discusses various nutrients and their relevance in ASDs, as well as, demystifies the various diets that have been successful in ASDs. In summary, this book is one-stop shopping for excellent information about nutrition and special diets in ASDs.

I have read all book about dietary interventions for autistic children. I learned something from every one, but Julie's book is, by far, the best resource imaginable. This book is excellent for parents, physicians, teachers, anyone who works with ASD kids. My son was so unhealthy and sick all the time. I did not understand why because I had him on the GF/CF diet. It just was not enough for Christian, he needed to go SCD, low oxalate and get off soy. Through Julie's book I was able to understand what was going wrong in Christian's gut and how to fix it. Julie lays out all the science in comprehensive details, helping me explain to family members and doctors why so many foods make Christian sick. I wanted them to understand that science based dietary interventions are not "dangerous"- doing nothing to help sick autistic kids is the real danger

This book really inspired me and helped my son tremendously.

I am a Feeding Therapist and Speech Language Pathologist specializing in the field of Autism Spectrum Disorders. I have found this book to be the backbone of my feeding therapy for the children I have diagnosed as problem feeders or picky eaters. I tell the parents I serve that a child's growth and development is dependent on the amount of nutrients they consume and the diet that works best for their particular child. To find out what will work for your child and more importantly WHY it will work, open this book! Time is of the essence -this book is a MUST for any parent wanting RECOVERY!
Thank you Julie!
- Dawn Winkelmann, M.S, CCC-SLP -Feeding Therapist/Speech Language Pathologist

As a holistic nutritionist and food therapist, I find this book to be an excellent resource and reference book. It is critical that information such as that found in Nourishing Hope is shared with parents at large (and as many healthcare professionals as would be willing to learn from it.)

Critical information grounded in research, and explained intelligently, abounds in this book. It combines science, biochemistry, logic, research, common sense, and "case study"-based information for parents, caregivers, and healthcare professionals.

Julie Matthews has put together an excellent resource for anyone who wants real information that will impact health and quality of life for those with autism.

Additionally, the nutrition and detoxification steps outlined can and should be taken to treat and ameliorate autism - AND can be used during pregnancy, nursing, and childhood to PREVENT autism from developing - a common fear among parents as the statistics rise (1 in 150 children with autism, boys 4:1 to girls).

This book will benefit anyone who has a child in their life (at all), anyone who is considering having children, anyone who has a child on the spectrum - as well as any child battling ADHD, allergies, and asthma.

Thank-you Julie Matthews for compiling this information and authoring this great work! - K. Genzlnger, CNC, CMTA - Holistic Food Therapist / Holistic Nutritionist

This book helps teachers and parents structure learning time for better results. Not all children learn through the same methods, and for some children, a typical classroom is utterly frustrating and incomprehensible. Have you ever taught a small child how to walk? Did you talk them through it, delivering lectures and demonstrations, or did you hold their hand till they got their balance, then let them stumble from spot to spot until they learned? Does your child walk fairly well? Great. Now think back... when your child fell or stumbled, did you become alarmed at the setback and take them to the doctor, or did you encourage them to try again?

Most kids learn very well by doing. They may learn a lot less well from lectures. Classrooms, sadly, are mostly teacher talk, student listen environments.

This book gives strategies for structuring lessons so that they involve physical motion, hands-on practice, and creative tasks.

These strategies are useful not only for ADD/ADHD kids, but for MOST kids. We live in a country where normal kid behavior is seen as a pathology. ADD/ADHD is a real neurological phenomenon. My uninformed guess is that many of these diagnoses are not from medical doctors or psychiatrists familiar with abnormal brain development.

When 20% or more of your boys are tagged with the ADD/ADHD label, it becomes meaningless.

For example, a characteristic of ADD/ADHD is distractibility... but so is over focusing and being undistractable. So is spacing out and daydreaming. A high activity level is characteristic... but so is lethargic behavior or slow work completion. The first chapter of this book points out these contradictions and suggests dealing with kids on a kid-by-kid basis, communicating with parents, and offering a variety of learning strategies (the rest of the book is a help for that.) It provides excellent advice and ideas.

Still, my problem with the book is that is addresses ADD/ADHD from a perspective that classroom learning is normal, and children who don't do well in classrooms need intervention. In my view, classroom learning is unnatural, often stressful, and a sub-optimal system for teaching kids. My conclusion is that the kids who need help are probably as normal as the kids who sit still and raise their hands.

Anyway, I got it because I teach 3 year olds Sunday school, and so many moms already (at age 3!) tag their kids as having ADD. So I read up on it to learn how to reach a wide variety of kids.

Understanding your child's attentional challenges can help your child be the best they can be
A Moment of Peace: Relaxation for Parents AudiobookA Moment of Peace: Relaxation for Children

This book arrived, quickly and in very good condition. I am well pleased, as this is for a friend to check-out from our church library.

This valuable book should be read by all parents and teachers. Every student can benefit from the strategies in Sandra Rief's book, not just students with ADD/ADHD. I am a HS teacher and a parent, and I constantly refer to the tools and ideas in this book. It is the best resource I have found for effective teaching of ALL students.

I would go so far as to say this book should be required reading for all teachers. I have shared it with some of the newer teachers in my school and they are amazed by how practical and informative it is. Again, this is an exceptional resource for all children, not just those with ADD/ADHD.

I purchased this book for a graduate class. The instructor felt it would be better than any textbook. It is a very helpful, practical resource for everything ADHD. It is easy to read.

Any parent concerned about her child's emotions or behavior has enough to deal with. Navigating the psychotherapy world can be confusing and frustrating. Dr. Curtis provides a very thoughtful and thorough guide to getting the answers and help you need. The Glossary of Terms is especially helpful and the section on Parent Resources is invaluable. As a parent and a child psychologist I highly recommend this book.

Dr. Curtis has written an excellent book that can be a great resource for parents and processionals in supporting their efforts with children. Written in a clear, concise, and straightforward manner this book provides resources for working with children who are frustrated and parents who can be frustrate with the child or the world around them that is designed to support them. I have purchased copies for parents I work with and utilize it in a parent support group for children with processing challenges. I also have recommended it to professionals I work with as it fills a void left by too many other books that do not accomplish what Dr. Curtis has.

At what point do you seek professional help when a child is acting, by his parent's standards, weird? "Understanding Your Child's Puzzling Behavior: A Guide for Parents of Children with Behavioral, Social, and Learning Challenges" is a parent's guide to understanding a child's strange behavior and whether they should intervene or it is simply another kind of normal. Suggesting that parents never go for short term solutions, how to look at why the child acts the way they act, and when is the line to seek psychiatric assistance? "Understanding Your Child's Puzzling Behavior: A Guide for Parents of Child with Behavioral, Social, and Learning Challenges" is essential for any concerned parent who doesn't get their child's behavior and for community library parenting collections.

Trying to find your way through the myriad of advice about how to parent your child can be overwhelming on the best of days. The actual child can get lost in all of the ideas/philosophies/beliefs. That truth is amplified if your child has any sort of behavior that seems to be outside of the "norm". Dr. Curtis guides parents in an honest, nonjudgmental way toward the avenues which can best help them and ultimately, most importantly, help the child get the support he/she needs. His assurance that positive progress can be made is a gift. That these are not "problem" children who have something wrong with them... a message those of us with atypical children are confronted with all too often, but that they are children who merit more support, understanding and sensitivity. Dr. Curtis knows that children with puzzling behavior operate within a family, and that the parents, who love these kids more than anything and are trying to help them to the best of their ability, need guidance and support too. His holistic approach is truly a relief to those of us who deal daily with the beauty, challenge, heartbreak and joy of raising these unique little beings.

There are numerous "how to parent" books available, with each having their unique twist to the age old problem of raising children. None however, have placed the responsibility upon parents who ultimately know their child better than anyone! This book is a practicle guide for the parents to identify the problems and how to address them. Their teacher? The parents of troubled children know their child better than anyone could hope to. This book is their practical guide to putting their knowledge to work.

I am a psychotherapy clinician who works with a multitude of disorders, of which ADHD is one of them. My knowledge of ADHD is sufficient, but I found this book to be exceptionally informational and written tightly. The author does not rely upon much anecdote nor non-researched gibberish so common in books on adult ADHD. Nearly all points are backed by solid research evidence, yet the tone is easily accessible for clinicians and for those adults with an average-to-above-average reading level.

Dr. Tuckman has written a concise, exceptionally well-organized, and practically helpful book on the subject. I am generally quite critical with many books on ADHD, because so many blend myth with science. The book is outstanding, because it leaves the reader with general information and specific content ideas to utilize for helping adults with ADHD work through the significant challenges inherent in the condition.

It is obvious that Dr. Tuckman has a wealth of experience working firsthand with adults with ADHD, understands the science of the disorder, and blends the two with sufficient depth and expertise.

This book lays it on the line for clinicians who may not know as much as they need to know to treat a client with ADHD. Many people are undiagnosed or miss-diagnosed and continue to struggle with a condition that isn't so difficult to manage, if they know how. If more mental health professionals would read this book more people would be helped.

Dr. Tuckman has successfully written a practical and easy to read guide to working with adults with ADHD. This book is a great resource, not only for those with ADHD, but for other clients struggling with similar issues (e.g., time management problems, procrastination, impulsiveness, etc.). I have found his writing and treatment approach to be straight forward and well received by clients. Additionally, Dr. Tuckman provides the reader with helpful forms and client handouts free of charge, which are available on his website. This book is a must read for those in clinical practice.

Dennis Given, Psy.D.
Licensed Psychologist & Director
Psychology Associates of Chester County

Our society largely considers therapists to be the first line of defense when we experience personal challenges. That's great if we have garden-variety "issues." But if we have a neurocognitive condition such as ADHD, the wrong therapy can be worse than no therapy at all. And I'm not exaggerating.

Many frustrating years can be spent in talk therapy trying to discover the deep, dark, "real" reason why a person procrastinates or "sabotages" his or her own goals and plans--never knowing that a medical condition is the reason. (A treatable medical condition.) Many clients are encouraged to pin the genesis of their problems on a dysfunctional childhood, never knowing that ADHD is highly heritable. (In other words, odds are good that at least one of the client's parents was exhibiting problematic ADHD behavioral patterns, too.)

Talk therapy might provide a few epiphanies and strategies for change, albeit most of them short-lived. But for many people with ADHD, therapy with a clinician who fails to recognize ADHD or appreciate its significance is a costly proposition that can actually diminish hopes that patterns can ever change.

For some long-time therapists, all this might be hard to accept, but Dr. Tuckman gently nudges readers into these new paradigms. Partly this is due to his clear and accessible prose style. But it's also due, I think, to his knack for acknowledging situations in which a well-trained therapist might draw certain conclusions--but be perfectly wrong. And he does it tactfully and congenially. Not easy!

After years of being a support-group leader for both adults with ADHD and the partners of adults with ADHD, I'm grateful to welcome Dr. Tuckman's practical addition to my Adult ADHD library. It is thorough, practical, authoritative, and easily understood. Routinely, I recommend clinician guides like this to adults with ADHD (and their loved ones); they simply contain more substantial and helpful information than most consumer books on Adult ADHD.

If you are a non-ADHD-savvy clinician who assumes that you would surely recognize ADHD in a client or that you could simply "intuit" the right treatment path, please reconsider. You really don't want to harm your client, do you? You don't want to postpone, maybe even entirely eliminate, the client's chance for success, do you? No, of course not. You want to help your clients free the obstacles in their path. And that's exactly what this book can help you to do.

Gina Pera

Even though the intended audience of this book is "clinicians" it's written so anybody can understand it. It's a great book for adults with ADHD and anybody else who has an interest in Adult ADHD. It's also a great resource for adults with ADHD to recommend to their doctors, therapists, and ADHD Coaches.