Communication-Disorders Books

If you are a stutterer, or you have an interest in speech pathology and desire to learn more about stuttering, this book is an interesting place to start. Now, granted, it is not an easy read for the layperson, and it certainly does not discuss issues of indivudal stuttering concepts, but if you want a history, if you want to read about different strategies welcomed in the past, and if you want to learn a little about those famous people who have endured through many uncomfortable situations of "tongue-tied-ness," grab a copy of this book!

Keep in mind though, that if you're looking to learn about the causes and therapies and in-depth experiences with stuttering, this book will not fulfill that venue. This is a book on history and the interesting and absurd methods of "curing" the stutter that were utilized. At any rate, if you are a stutterer and you want to see that you're not alone, please pick up a copy of this book. :o)

This book is a fairly interesting history of stuttering. Benson Bobrick takes a look at historical figures who have stuttered, a list which includes Charles Darwin, Winston Churchill, Marilyn Monroe, Moses, and the Greek speaker Demosthenes. Knotted Tongues is a look at how stuttering was perceived throughout history and how stuttering has been treated.

The part of this book that I found the most fascinating was the time it spent examining how stuttering was treated over time. What I didn't expect was how cringe-inducing this would be. There were some methods that involved the chewing of various substances, as well as other that involved speaking with a mouth full of pebbles. The cringe-worthy methods involved scalding the tongue, and burning around the throat and head (the reasons had to do with what these doctors thought about the causes of stuttering). As painful as these sound, the most brutal method of treatment was a surgery that cuts part of the tongue away. Mind you, this was done before anesthetics. There is a fairly graphic description of this surgery in the book.

Knotted Tongues is not a book about how to best treat stuttering, nor does it go into detail about the variety of modern (and much more humane) treatments available today. This is a history of stuttering. It is easily readable, and does not go into the level of technical detail that you would find in Starkweather's "Stuttering". While someone who stutters may have more interest in this book, I think that anyone would find this interesting, if only to see the various methods of treatment and how stutterers have been viewed throughout history. Good book.

It seems to be an axiom in my field of speech pathology that most speech/language therapists are able to deal with the mechanics of speech and language well enough but can't communicate effectively. Most speakers and writers in the field are unbearable communicators who wouldn't recognize an interesting sentence (rather than a nerve deadening dose of academic jargon) if it leapt up and bit them on their private parts (I would like to use a more colorful term but this is a family site).
Thankfully, Bobrick knows how to write quite well. This is a fascinating (and highly readable) survey of stuttering in history. It should be on the shelf of everyone who works with stutterers.

This book looks at the history of stuttering and its treatment from long ago to the present. As someone who stuttering I appreciated the author's thoroughness in researching the treatment processes used in the past and comparing them to the present.

Bobrick, a stutterer himself, writes a fascinating historical overview of both the famous stutterers in history (Greek orator Demosthenes, Winston Churchill, Nai Bevan) and reviews the "cures" on offer through the ages. I am similarly afflicted and found the book fascinating. My good friend Jon bought it for me after a low point in my life when I did jury service. My oath took the best part of 25 minutes and my fellow jurors elected me foreman. The verdict was real edge-of-your-seat stuff.

I bought this books for my Phonetics class. So far, it is a decent book. Class has only been in session for a week, so, there is still a ways to go yet!

I am using this book for my "Applied Phonetics" class and it is working out great. It is very thorough and well put together. I haven't opened the cd yet so I am not sure how helpful that is. I have been working through the book at a steady pace and haven't felt like anything is negative about this book, I really like it so far. Obviously if you are buying this you need it for something to do with speech/language or for a class so it might be required. It is worth the money and make sure you buy it new or you will do a lot of erasing and whiting-out. This is a workbook with pages and pages of writing exercises.

I found the book to be very well organized and a useful reference. The CD was not as helpful. The author could have done more with the CD, putting more material to get his message across. All in all though, for someone studying G.A. phonology in another country, this has proved to be a sound guide.

After looking at a number of textbooks for a course in English phonetics, I decided to use Fundamentals of Phonetics by Larry Small. The book almost teaches itself. There are hundreds of short exercises that students can use on their own. The answer key at the back of the book covers a vast majority of the learning tools. My task as a teacher is greatly simplified.

The examples and diagrams are clear. I also like the enclosed CD with sample utterances. I would have preferred that the audio tapes mentioned in the text be included on the CD, rather than as a separate purchase.

This is a great starter book for learning ASL. I homeschool and we have learned so much from this book and continue to use it on a DAILY basis. I like the dictionary format, which makes finding specific signs quick and simple. Definitely worth the purchase price.

I work with kids with hearing impairments and this book is a great tool to anyone who is trying to learn to sign. It is clear and easy to follow. I highly recommend it to anyone trying to learn to sign.

This is book is one I recommand for giving to family and friends who want to learn sign language. It not the best on the market but it is affordable and easy to understand. This book is also just the basics so you need to work with who ever you give this book too. This book also helps when it comes to differnt kind of sign language or signs for the same word. It a great book and I give it to everyone who ask me about Sign Language!

especially when you need to find a specific word(s) in a hurry. you won't have to fuss over understanding how to do the signs. I love it. Excellent learning tool.

Great product and quick delivery considering the book was coming from the USA and I'm in Australia, took about 2 1/2 weeks or so. Would use again

My copy of this book is filled with sticky notes, bookmarks, and highlighted paragraphs- I use it constantly for research, presentations, ideas, etc. It is a key resource for teachers, researchers, and therapists. Well written and comprehensive!

The book was new and in perfect condition and was much cheaper than at a regular bookstore.

This book was much needed and helpful as I was planning sessions for a child with some significant fluency inssues. Easy to read and easy to implement in sessions. I'm still refering to this guide on a weekly basis.

A great book for any SLP (especially those who are not "specialists" in stuttering therapy) at a very reasonable price-

Excellent stuttering resource - easy to read, very detailed, and good therapy ideas. Recommended for graduate students in speech pathology or SLP's in the field.

It is not meet my expection for my project. There are a little activity and game with sign language. And also, there are no group of age to be encourage to learn the activities.

I AM AN ASL AND SPANISH STUDENT, FOUND THIS BOOK IN THE LIBRARY AND MUCH TO MY GREAT SURPRISE AND EXCITEMENT SAW THE ASL LEARNING WORDS WERE ALSO IN SPANISH! RIGHT AWAY I KNEW I WANTED MY OWN COPY! EVEN THOUGH THE BOOK IS DESIGNED FOR CHILDREN, IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT, WHEN ADULTS ARE LEARNING A NEW LANGUAGE AREN'T WE AT A KINDERGARTEN READING LEVEL? I'M EXCITED, THIS IS AN AWSOME BOOK!

As a new teacher I find this book to a wonderful inspiartion to teach out of the box. I want to teach Spanish and A.S.L. but wasn't sure how. When I saw this book, it got me even more excited about teaching than I already was. I immediately came up with ideas to intergrate Spanish, A.S.L., and everyday speaking. It may seem silly to some because it was so simple, but the idea to tech them together had not come to me in such a complete form until I saw this book. these are ideas that can be adapted to any topic and cirriculum. Great for new teacher and the veteran trying somthing new or expanded.

A great book that really gives you step by step ideas on how to encourage language. You can apply these ideas to children with Down Syndrome, as well as typically developing children with language delays.

I think this is a wonderful book that not only explains whatDown Syndrome is but how beautiful it is and how special it is . Ibelieve that everyone should get this book for someone who has or knows a parent that cares for a down syndrome baby.

Children with Down Syndrome are often delayed in developing speech but can compensate for this delay by using sign language and other skills in a technique called Total Communication. This guide provides a wealth of information about speech and language development in children with Down syndrome. Parents learn what to expect as communication skills progress from infancy through early adolescence, how Down syndrome can affect those skills, and what they can do to maximize their child's potential in this crucial area of development. This book was recommended by our son's speech therapist.

Excellent introduction for law enforcement regarding encountering individuals with autism. I recommend it be used along with Dennis Debbaudt's book: Autism, Advocates and Law Enforcement Professionals: Recognizing and Reducing Risk Situations for People With Autism Spectrum Disorders. Davis covers topics in a personal and user-friendly way, though real-life interaction and in depth-training is certainly required to avoid tragedies such as taser deaths.

Superb! Bill lifts the veil off of a very difficult subject and explains in plain English the things that every emergency responder in the world ought to know about autism.

Parents... Buy this book and force it into the hands of your local police/fire/rescue departments. The more you educate your community about autism, the less risk your autistic child will face in the instance of an emergency.

This is an invaluable resource...

Joe Peifer

Bill Davis does it once again with Dangerous Encounters. If you have a child with autism, young or old, this is an invaluable book for your family. The book is an incredible resource on how to make your child(ren) and family as safe as possible in many different situations.

If there was a fire in your home, would your local firefighters know how to respond properly to your child? What about the police if you were in an accident and your child was unable to speak?

Bill provides plain and simple answers to the questions none of us want to answer or think about. But when the unthinkable happens, you need to be prepared and so does your community.

Get a copy of this book today and visit Unlocking Autism's website ... to get a safety packet as well!

I have a 7 year old non verbal autistic son who types. This is a great book (unfortunately the title is currently politically incorrect) to tell you how to aid a child with severe communication deficets to acheive independance in communication with the speaking world.
Thank you Rosemary Crossley!

I accidently reviewed the wrong book the following review is for another book I just got that is titled Autism and Myth of the Person Alone, by Douglas Biklen.

First of all I have to say I haven't had a chance to finish this book, but am almost done with it. I have two autistic children and one is non-verbal. She is learning to use facilitated communication and we can not believe what all she has absorbed over the years and is able to communicate to us now. Expectations in the school and the public are high though and total communication with everyone is expected, and much is questioned - mainly is she doing this or are we. Anyone who has been able to support her in writing will tell you that when she really has something to say, she is definitely pushing her finger to the correct keys. But there are many other questions, such as why she can't do this with everyone, why does she need the arm or hand support and why she isn't always capable of telling us something. This book helped me to understand, that like everything else in autism, some things just can't be explained and we should be grateful for whatever communication she can give us and however she can offer it. The best part of this book is the last chapters which are offered by other autistic individuals who are using facilitated communication, and although have not perhaps "perfected it" as we neuro-typicals would like, are much more able to take a part in life and live happier because of it. Its great to challenge and have high expectations but at the same time we have to understand there may be limitations and to not demean what has been accomplished and that there may be no further perfection of the method.

I would give this book by Rosemary Crossley 3 stars. It is helpful in teaching the method if you don't know anything about it. The only reason I only give it 3 stars is that a lot of the information in the book I already had knowledge of. But if you are interested in Facilitated Communication, it would be a good book to start with. As your child or student starts to learn the method and uses it, the other book I reviewed, accidently above, would be another good choice because it shows how the method works with different people with autism and some of the idiosyncrasies involved that we neuro-typical people just don't understand.

Sorry for any confusion.

Facilitated communication training is a means of improving the communication skills of people without speech, and Rosemary Crossley is the person who discovered it this time around. She's thus a good person to explain what it is, what it does, and what it can achieve.
It is, it has to be said, controversial, but if you want a straightforward account of what's claimed and what can be proven this is a very good start.

(I'm heavily involved in FCT, so allow for bias)

I took my mother to her very first Christian workshop in 10-98 to hear Sheri Rose Shepherd Speak and she was truly inspirational. We bought both her books that day, and took lots of notes. My mother, now deceased, truly felt a blessing during the day's event and I'll always remember the bond that grew closer because of that day.

I still have Sheri's books on my bookshelf, not just to remember the day my mum and I grew closer, but to remember the wise words Sheri shared in her words and her speech.

She talks about how God uses storms to get our attention, and how it's important to learn the lessons God intended for us to learn, how to forgive yourself--not just others, how to deal with your emotions, and how food effects our lives in both the positive and the negative. And finally, she talks about how we are gifts to the world around us. A very inspirational book.

Sheri knows what it's like to battle with an eating disorder and obesity. She is not only gorgeous on the outside, but her heart shines through with every page. This book is very powerful. It's perfect for the woman who is struggling with issues in her life, whether it be relational, physical, or emotional.

Like many people, I've suffered with an eating disorder. As a Christian, I knew it was time to stop turning to fashion magazines for advice and start turning to God. I was intrigued to find a health plan based on the Bible, and thought I'd give it a try. Shepherd's health philosophy is logical and well-researched. These tapes are sensitive, renewing, motivating, and applicable to life. In addition to food and eating disorders, Shepherd discusses emotion, anger management, marriage, and following your calling.

As a result of these tapes, I've stopped dieting for human approval, and started living healthfully to honor God's temple, my body. I would definitely reccommend Fit For Excellence to any Christian woman who has suffers from an eating disorder or food obsession.

Although hearing Shepherd's voice gave the book a personal touch unatainable in paperback, the sound quality left something to be desired. Poor editing made the book choppy and disjointed at times, which took away from the message. However, if you are able to get over this unfortunate flaw, you will thoroughly enjoy hearing Fit For Excellence, and gain the wisdom and knowledge that you may be missing in mainstream "diet" books.