Disability-and-Health Books

"Strong at the Broken Places" is an excellent resource for anyone with a chronic or terminal illness, as well as for their family, caretakers, and friends. It really emphasizes the strength and perserverity of these five strong individuals. I highly recommend this book. Richard Cohen does a great job of emphasizing how important it is to treat the person, not just the illness or condition.

I was drawn to this book because I admire how the author Richard continues his life as a brilliant journalist despite a chronic illness. And because last year for the first time I was in the hospital myself for several days unexpectedly.Later that same hospital stay would inspire me to write my newest book since writing has always been a first love: The Vision Board: The Secret to an Extraordinary LifeYes, for the first time in my life it was me in the hospital bed. AND I realized how challenging it is just to be INSIDE the hospital, let alone think about dealing with a chronic illness and living a life of hope. You know sometimes it's tough to keep up hope every day. This book is like six different volumes in a way -- it tells the story of five different 'citizens of sickness' and then a collective meeting with them all. You will find it a) inspirational -- b) informational and it will live on in YOU. I keep thinking of Denise who as the author says traded an impossible challenge (of conquering ALS) with a rigorous task (going to Antartica to see the penguins) she could complete. How come we all don't make plans to see the penguins or whatever it is that symbolizes our own vision in life? Each story of each person is more poignant than the other. This is not sniveling stuff-- it's real and not all nicey nice either. But it is fascinating to see how these people including the author turn their anger into fuel to keep going. Richard talks straight to you with his writing. I often feel like I'm sitting in a coffee shop or yes, a bar having a beer with this guy...he's honest. IT'S NOT EASY...heck it's really TOUGH and other words that won't get pass the Amazon cyber censors. BUT it is inspiring to thing that we may all be strong at our own broken places. Too often those of us from challenging families or who face chronic illness, pain or other obstacles feel 'defective' because of our difference. The author shows how to channel that into strength. This is a great book for anyone going through a life transition -- divorce or a major move or graduation or starting a new venture. For it is in the challenges that we discover opportunities. ENJOY -- every parent, every therapist, every doctor, every counselor and everyone into self-improvement will want to read these real words.

Some people may "understand" chronic illness like they are watching news video of a destructive Midwest twister - it's always happening to some other family. The statistics show otherwise. Richard Cohen does not take the reader on a pristine glass-bottom boat tour of devastating illnesses. "Strong at the Broken Places" tips the boat over and tosses the reader into the waters to swim - for a moment. Honesty begins with a trusted conversation. Cohen invites us to the table with five people, who each bluntly detail their brutal struggles with different chronic diseases. The respectful dialogue reveals that we may all have more in common with them than we care to admit. In the face of catastrophic events, we will all wish to have the strength that they have shown. Their lives set landmarks to guide others through their own realizations, acceptance and constructive determination.
Thank you, Denise, Buzz, Ben, Sarah, Larry and especially Richard, for sharing your strengths and fostering the humanity in all of us.

Book: Strong at the Broken Places: Voices of Illness, a Chorus of Hope by Richard M. Cohen

About: Cohen gets the stories of five people with chronic illnesses: Denise with ALS, Buzz with cancer, Ben with muscular dystrophy, Sarah with Crohn's disease and Larry with bipolar disorder.

Pros: The 5 people's stories are varied and moving.

Cons: Cohen does not let his subjects just tell their stories, which would have lead to a much better book as the five people profiled are very interesting, instead Cohen just seems to get in their way. A choice quote: "I'd rather hear this kid chew than listen to him talk about dying." While interviewing, He seems to try to get his subjects to say what he wants to hear and inserts far too much of his own struggle with MS and cancer as many statements that with "When I..." instead of focusing on the person he's supposed to be profiling. His analysis of the five adds very little and includes such groundbreaking lines as "Cancer is no fun. Neither are diseases of the bowel."

I believe this book is a must read for everyone. It touches you, it pulls you, it makes you want to scream and yell, it breaks you apart and puts you back together...but most importantly, it makes you appreciate all that is good about your life.

I have Crohns disease and I have a mental illness, two of the topics touched upon in this book. But I am a better person today for having read Strong At The Broken Places because I know that, in spite of my infirmities, I am strong and I will survive.

Thank you Richard Cohen!!!

This book is an excellent resource for those with ADD and not. First of all it is extremely easy to read, well organized, with lots of pictures- perfect for someone with ADD or someone who wants to learn practical solutions quickly. The book gives advice room by room and solutions that are designed with a person with ADD in mind, but that can be applied to others as well. The advice in this book has revolutionized my home, and has helped me realize why I had so much trouble keeping everything clean and in order. This is a must read, it is my favorite and I refer to it often!

If you have AD/HD and have tried to get organized without success, this is a good book for you. After reading this book I now am actually getting organized. You will realize why all the organizing systems you have tried before never worked. They were for brains that didn't have AD/HD. Two more great books are: "4 Weeks to an Organized Life with AD/HD", and "ADD-Friendly Ways to Organize Your Life"

I've had this book for three days, have read almost all of it, and have used it to organize my pantry, bedroom, and walk-in closet! And I haven't spent a penny! I'm so excited to get the linen closet, dish cupboards, and everything else done, as well! And I am working on scheduling a couple of days with my husband and helpers to finally tackle that beast of a garage!
With ADHD, I'll never be able to make Martha Stewart proud,(note to self, cancel that subscription,) nor will I ever get the proper use out of my boxes and boxes of organizational tupperware. I get it now, thanks to this book. But I can and have created efficient spaces that are manageable!
Being frugal never got me organized, but "the brutal purge," has done wonders for our home! I can finally justify getting rid of all of that stuff that I have kept, "just in case!"
The book itself is easy to read, has step-by-step instructions for organizing and has lots of easy, inexpensive tips for organizing things without spending lots of money. Basically, you have to make the stuff fit the space, or invest in more space! What a simple concept, but this woman illustrates it and motivates so that it is finally achieveable!
I was just diagnosed less than three weeks ago, and life is brighter than ever, now! And cleaner!

this book is amazing, it's like the author took many years to study my living habits. i never knew how much AD/HD affected my home life, i though it only effected school and driving. i bet it probaly effects the workplace too, i wonder if there is any books about that. the 2 most important things it said that struck me to the bone is how ppl with AD/HD require more engery imput into any task, so they get tired and overwhelmed much eaiser, and that what you don't see you forget about, end up buying duplicates of, and that is it hard for someone with AD/HD to get rid of stuff, getting rid of too much too fast is overwhelming. And as i had started to discover on my own that taking closet doors off helps me a lot to keep the closet organized and helps me to keep track of clean clothes and put them away eaiser, the book also said sometime you need to remove cubard doors, keep things out in the open, it may not me more attractive but it is more fuctional, fuctional is the key to keeping the AD/HD home organized. fuctional is easily accesable and easy to put back. The book goes into details of how to display things and where to put things so that it makes the most sence... it also gives us permision to not make our beds!!!! personaly with my bed when it's not in use (wich it is a lot, also explained in the book) i leave it with just the pillow and fitted sheet on it, all the sheets and blankets are on a shelf between the side of my bed and the wall. sometimes they are folded sometimes they are not, but it's easy access and easy to put back and i dn't have to get out of bed att night if i wake up cold and need another blanket. some stuff in the book is logic, like next to every phone there should be a notebook and a pen/pencil, personaly when i did this i velcroed the notepad and pen to the shelf next to the phone. that is just a little of what the book is about, you have to read it for the details of how to do it. if you want to contact me for help beyond what the book can give you i am at fight_the_good_fight@hotmail.com Also i learned that having less stuff really does decrease stress, i had to spend a weekend away from home and only had 2 hours to pack, taking only the nessisties and living with only them really helped me focus on my life and what i needed to do about the things that werre stressing me out.

The layout of Organizing Solutions resembles a magazine, having glossy pages with lots of images and little text. the layout simplifies finding ideas and makes it particularly easy for those withADHD or other learning disabilities to find tips quickly without getting lost in a jumble of text. it has sections covering each room of the house plus ideas of how to handle specific items or tasks that occur in those rooms (paying bills, folding laundry, etc.). as a basic intro for those who have not figured out how to organize many parts of their homes, or certain areas in particular, this could be a helpful book. but, for me, the flaws outnumber it's usefulness.

Pinsky spends too much time arguing for efficiency at the cost of beauty and frugality, which essentially means you need to have some money to implement her ideas. yardwork a hassle? hire someone. can't get your room organized? buy more furniture. there are a lot of helpful tips, but the wastefulness ("it is quicker and more efficient to use paper plates as your "china" of choice at everything but your most formal meals.") was too much for me to handle. in talking about efficiency, she frequently suggests using open shelves and open storage bins so it's easier to just toss (or, to use her term, "wing") things into the containers instead of wasting time with doors and lids. the problem with that system that she never addresses is how to handle the amount of dust that will get on everything and inside those containers, creating a new problem altogether (but i guess you just hire a housekeeper to handle that, as she suggests hiring one to clean other parts of the house).

if you're having trouble getting a particular part of the house organized, skim through that section of the book in a bookstore or library (they're nicely labeled and color coded) to get some ideas, but leave the book behind.

This has been a tool for us to talk to our 5 year old about his OCD. Parts of it are over his head and I'm sure we will have to repeat this again but it at least gives us guidelines as lost parents for how to start battling this awful disorder.

This is a great book to help younger kids understand and take control of their OCD. It has been very helpful to several of my younger clients (10 and under).

This is a very good book. It does clearly explain to young children what the experience of OCD is and describes in general terms what to do about the problem. However, since I just read The Boy Who Finally Stopped Washing, I see that it only discusses OCD in broad terms. Each person requires treatment tailored to their individual needs. Also, some sensitive kids, as most OCD kids are, might not like thinking that their brain is "stuck" (something is wrong with them). This book is a little cook-booky and does not tell a success story like the book I just read did.

As a child psychologist, I have found this to be a very useful workbook. The chapters are relatively brief and help children learn about their symptoms of OCD through active engagement with stories, metaphors, pictures and fun activities. The author presents the material in a positive, non-threatening way and the messages about how to manage symptoms of anxiety are very hopeful. I highly recommend it!

I bought this and two other books in the series for my 13yo daughter who has Aspergers and OCD... and diabetes... and Celiac Disease. Because of her various issues, my daughter has developed a fear of germs and gluten. It is extreme. (The reality is that gluten can only harm her if she puts it in her mouth or inhales it, like if she were around poofing floor.) For example, envelopes have gluten, therefore she is afraid of envelopes. Our outside doorknob may have gluten on it (from when we enter the house, before we all wash our hands), so you should see the contortions when she walks out the front door, trying to stay as far away from the doorknob as possible.

We started reading this book. Then all three of the books disappeared from the living room. My daughter liked these books so much that she actually read and reread them on her own in her room! We are still methodically going through them together, but that she enjoys additionally reading them on her own says something about their child-friendly content. The pages are very interactive, with a good deal of writing and drawing to be done.

Anyway, when we were about halfway through the book, my daughter announced that she was going to stand around holding the doorknob. And she wanted to tackle mail! I discussed going outside, on her own, to go and get the mail. The next day she did it!! This was an enormous achievement for her. You understand, she had to touch the doorknob to open the door, go to the mailbox, touch and hold all the mail/envelopes, and then face down the doorknob again. She told OCD off and did it with no problems whatsoever. Then she went and washed her hands.

I know it's just a first step, but it's a giant leap for her. From now on, she'll be checking the mail every day. And all because of this book. My daughter has been in therapy for a year. She took the largest leap to date because of this book.

I bought this book after I purchased Driven to Distraction (which is a great book). Answers To Distraction's format helped put the information you want/need into real life situations. It made it practical and extremely useful. I would recommend the book to the person with ADD as well as their partner.

I was diagnosed with Attention Deficeit Disorder at age 51. Although my son has suffered from this disorder all his life, it wasn't until I was diagnosed with the same problem that I fully realized what he has gone through his entire life. I discovered that while I was NOT aware of having ADD until age 51, the signs have been there all my life. This book, taken from questions submitted by the audiences to the author's lectures, was a fast, entertaining & meaningful read for me. It is in short "bites" that are easy to understand & helpful for those of us with short attention spans. I learned a lot about the disorder and about myself from reading this book. This is the first book on ADD that I have been able to actually finish without giving up in sheer boredom.

Get Driven to Distraction first, but this adds some lifestyle tips. A fair amount of repetition of the first book. It sure is cold in here.

This is a good book because of it's format; ie: Question/Answer. I think it might even be more helpful to those living with, or who associate with others who have ADD/ADHD.

To those who think ADD/ADHD is not real... your wrong. That being said, I wish to state here that it is not a defect. It is simply another brain/mind type. It is NORMAL, but it does not fit in with the majority. That is why we with ADD/ADHD struggle. We have to fit into a world set up for the majority. Once one learns that this is a GIFT rather than a disadvantage, it is incredibly freeing and even life saving. I know what I am talking about. I learned I had ADD when I was 37. I thank God every time I think about it that He made me this way. My advantages are far too numerous to list here, but suffice it to say, I can do what others only dream of because of this GIFT! My suggestion to all who are like me? Rejoice in it, and make it work FOR YOU. We are the dreamers of big dreams and we can make them HAPPEN.

This a great AD/HD resource. The book is written in a very ADD friendly Q & A format. This book will anser many commonly asked AD/HD related questions. Many of the questioned answered are ones that you may have always wanted to know but were afried to ask.

This a great book to add your AD/HD Library.

This is an excellent overview of Asperger Syndrome and its impact on the marriage compact. It's useful for everyone, but has less usefulness for men with female partners who have the syndrome. That's because the syndrome is found predominantly in males and Ms. Aston's research was with couples of this composition.

Very timely for me and tells it like it is. Nice to know I am not alone.

You don't have to be married to someone with Asperger's to value this book. Anyone who has autism in their family will see the patterns and traits outlined here in ways surprising and unexpected, and will recognize themselves in the process. Living with a person with autism can make you think you are crazy because of the coping mechanisms you put in place - people with autism can be orderly in a way that is enviable and makes you feel completely disorganized yourself and the next thing you know you're alphabetizing your medicine cabinet and sorting playmobil toys by the date they were manufactured.

The Other Half of Asperger's helps people without autism measure the impact of autism on theirs lives and empowers them to value the good things and minimize the bizarre ones. It allows you to knit those two halves (be they of a marriage, parent-child or brother-sister relationship) back into a whole.

What I really liked about this book is it's clarity and to-the-point writing. There isn't a whole lot of fluff (it's a short book) but it covers the basics very well. If you've been in a relationship with a man who as Asperger Syndrome for any length of time, you'll likely find yourself nodding your head, pleased to see that your feelings and thoughts are so well-addressed in this book.

What impressed me perhaps most of all is that this book manages to address some of the difficulties faced by the partner of someone with AS without making it seem as if they are a victim of their partner's AS. There is a refreshing tone of "this can work" throughout the book, acknowledging that, while some things can be difficult, men with AS also have some very redeeming qualities. AS is not a disease, and you shouldn't look at your partner as defective. People with AS just process their world differently. As in any relationship, partners need to decide what they are and are not willing to accept.

The book does touch a bit on women with AS, though it is brief and I feel it misses the mark somewhat. Still, I give this book five stars because I truly and honestly believe that any partner of a man with AS will benefit greatly from reading this. Men with AS may also benefit, as this book is a key to understanding his partner's experience.

I would highly recommend this book.

While this book is well written, I did purchase it hoping that it would include more about women with Aspergers who have a neurotypical partner. I struggled with the fact that I identified more with the author's said issues with her Partner with AS, than i did with her explanations for the partner with AS. I was disappointed that her experience only included two women with AS. Having said that, i still think that it is a good book for my partner as he still has to come to terms with my being on the Autistic Spectrum.

If I could give this a negative star, I would.

This is what Larry Silver, MD, has to say about Levinson's frauduent claims:

In summary, there is no current evidence supporting the theory of vestibular dysfunction nor supporting the proposed treatment approaches. Yet, the primary proponent of this treatment for learning disabilities remains extremely busy evaluating and treating these children.

Neurophysiological Approaches (a critique) Author:? Larry B. Silver, M.D.

International Dyslexia Association: Perspectives (info) Printed Date: Spring 2001 vol 27(3)

Cerebellar - Vestibular Dysfunction
Several investigators have suggested that the vestibular system is important in learning. They claim that there is a causal relationship between vestibular disorders and poor academic performance involving reading and written language in children with Learning Disabilities. Ayres, (1973), Frank and Levinson (1973), and Levinson (1980) suggest that such children require a specialized therapy before they can benefit from academic input. DeOuiros (1971) and Levinson (1984) suggest that evidence of a vestibular disorder is predictive of learning disabilities and that therapy can prevent these disabilities.

In recent years, Levinson has published several books on the causative role of the vestibular and vestibular-cerebellar systems in learning disabilities. He proposes the treatment of dyslexia with anti-motion sickness medication to correct the vestibular dysfunction. No research is cited in his books to support his theory or the effectiveness of his treatment. His books refer to his clinical observations and case examples. In one book (Levinson, 1984), he proposes multiple other interventions along with the anti-motion sickness medication, including many other types of medication plus special education.

The role of the vestibular system in the higher cortical functions required for academic performance is not known. Some of the symptoms generally associated with learning disabilities (faulty eye movements, poor postural coordination, poor balance, and poor spatial orientation) could be indicative of vestibular disorder. Such symptoms, however, are only indirect evidence for vestibular dysfunction. The most prorninent objective sign of vestibular involvement is nystagmus (spasmodic, rapid movement of the eyeball from side to side).

The hypothesis that there is a relationship between vestibular function and the academic learning of reading and written language comes chiefly from the authors noted. Ayres used the Southern California Postrotary Nystagmus Test. In this test, the child is rotated in alighted room with eyes open, which provides both visual and vestibular stimulation. Thus, it may not be a valid test of vestibular function. Frank and Levinson, used "blurring speed" as evidence for abnormal vestibular function. This was described as the speed at which words passing across the visual field can no longer be recognized. But, because this involves the passing of stimuli across the subject's visual field at varying speeds, it constitutes visual stimulation, not vestibular.

Consequently, none of the work of these investigators has provided conclusive evidence for vestibular dysfunction in individuals with learning disabilities. These data could possibly be interpreted as evidence of visual dysfunction. Other studies on vestibular dysfunction in children with learning disabilities have reported negative or equivocal results as well.

A study by Polatajko (1985) investigated the relationship between children's vestibular function and academic learning using well-defined criteria for learning disabilities and exact measurements of vestibular activity. The evaluation of vestibular function consisted of examination of calibration records, search for spontaneous and gaze nystagmus, testing smooth pursuit, and vestibular and optokinetic testing. Vestibular nystagmus was induced by a rotating chair. No significant differences either in the inbsity of vestibular responsivity or in the prevalence of vestibular dysfunction were found between the normal learning children and children with learning disabilities. There was no evidence that children having low, average, or high vestibular responsivity differed significantly on measures of academic performance. There was no significant correlation between measures of vestibular function and measures of academic performance.

In summary, there is no current evidence supporting the theory of vestibular dysfunction nor supporting the proposed treatment approaches. Yet, the primary proponent of this treatment for learning disabilities remains extremely busy evaluating and treating these children.
(...)

This book made sense out of dozens of seemingly unrelated issues/problems (dizziness, falling out of chairs, upset stomach, difficulty organizing thoughts, and much more), and backed it up with solid research and reasoning that made me say, "Oh, of course! That makes perfect sense!" I am so relieved to have found this book.

I read this book when my daughter was 5 yrs old. It helped her tremendously. Will it work for everyone? No even penicillin doesn't work for everyone, but it helps a lot of people. When I read this book to other adults I knew were dyslexic, they said that he had gotten their feelings & symptoms right. That's why we went to see Dr. Levinson. My daughter & her best friend are both dyslexic. They don't have the exact same symptoms, but they have the same diagnosis. This provided us the help we needed when no one else did. Her stomach aches, dizziness and dancing letters all went away with recommended treatment. It wasn't an instant cure but it worked. Thank goodness!

I was treated by Levinson briefly in the 80's when in my early 20's. His office on Long Island is a factory and he is happy to charge outlandish fees and put patients through a series of "tests" and then toss off a scrip for dramamine. This is about as close to snake oil as you can get in this modern age.

What amazes me is that he is still around, that his book is still in print, and that people believe his "theory" in the face of overwhelming evidence to the contrary.

However, I can testify that I saw, personally, the extremely strong link between corrective vestibular stimulation (as shown to me by an occupational therapist), and reading problems.

My son was diagnosed with sensory integratin disorder at age three. They told me that he would have trouble learning to read. I did not believe them, as he was an extremely bright child with an above average IQ (as per tests, and as everyone kept telling me.) Well, they were right, and I was wrong. He did have tremendous difficulty learning to read.

We spent time and money on tutors, made him practice reading (which he hated). Absolutely no results. After a session of sensory integration therapy (correctly done), he suddenly read fluently and quickly. This only lasted for a couple of hours, at most a day, then he would regress to reading very, very slowly and stumbling over the words. In the end, sensory integration therapy was only partly helpful, as the effects of therapy were not long-term, however sensory integration therapy is still in its very early stages, with therapists mainly using a "trial and error" method (each therapist I saw diagnosed him differently).

However, the link is definitely there. I saw my son reading fluently after a SI session, it was like a light switch - on/off. The problem being that it seemed to switch off after a certain amount of time. His behavior also underwent a dramatic change after therapy - for the same limited amount of time. He was calm, happy, and easy to deal with. I suspect that when they come up with a way for parents to do this therapy easily at home - every day - we will have seen a "cure" to these neurologically based problems.

This book was suggested to me by a lady who works at a retirement center. It is a very good center, and all employees are trained on this book. It helps you to understand how an older person (who's memory is challenged)thinks so you can reach them and also supply attention that is well received. Older people try to complete life's phases in areas they are not complete and that is why they may think you are someone that is now deceased. I really LOVED this book. I highly suggest it for anyone having to deal with the elderly that is memory-challenged and are frustrated with their different behaviors.****

The Validation Breakthrough: Simple Techniques for Communicating with People with 'Alzheimer's-Type Dementia'

To read this book you need to want to know how to help your parent or another loved one that is confused with life,memory loss,and their age.

The person you want to help is more confused than you are,take time to read this helpful and insightful book, you may find it gives you an inside look at some of the problems we all may face some day.

This book may take you into some of the thoughts you may have had and help you get some of the answers you need.

There is no wright or wrong in how to deal with someone you love,because if you love someone you only want what is best for them.

This is how I think about my mom,with love and understanding knowing she does't like what is happening to herself either . Some times she knows,most times she does't.

A friend recommended this book to me when I told her my mom has dementia. I would highly recommend it to anyone who is a caregiver of a person with dementia or similar diseases. Using the suggestions in this book, I was able to understand my mother and just "go back" with her when she was not in the present. It helped to calm her down and even get a smile from her on several occasions. You cannot reason someone back to the present when they are afflicted with dementia and their mind takes them back. My dad picked up on this also by watch me with her and now it is easier for him to talk to her as well.

Well, here's a book so poorly written that I will return it - which I have never done before. After 1 1/2 chapters, I cannot finish reading this book. The subject of the book showed promise - how to connect with someone who has alzheimers or same type dementia. I was very disappointed to read that the book's techniques did not apply to someone experiencing early onset alzheimers; this isn't why I am returning it, though - the writing style was repetitious and incredibly irritating. For example, how many times can you read the phrase "old-old" in a serious context? Also, reading the case studies is difficult because the quoted conversations are written in what seems like a 'narrative' style - people simply don't talk that way, and it's very distracting.
I give the book two stars - one star because it educated me in backing off trying to orient someone with dementia, and one more star because it made me think about whether newly emerging personality traits could have something to do with resolving business left unfinished earlier in life. In the future I will avoid reading any books written by this writer, as the writing style obviously rubs me the wrong way.

This validation technique is simple to learn. The case studies show you how to apply the technique to different situations. It consistently works where other methods don't. It has made my work in a nursing home so much more enjoyable and rewarding. It's the greatest when you have residents calm down and open up because you have taken a few minutes to validate what level of experience they are at.

Thank you to the writer of the response to "the author states opinion as fact". One more reference regarding the presence of autistic-like characteristics in family members of autistic kids:

Piven J, Palmer P, Jacobi D, Childress D, Arndt S. Broader autism phenotype: evidence from a family history study of multiple-incidence autism families. American Journal of Psychiatry, 1997; 154(2): 185-90.

The author has a habit of stating "heresay" and her opinions as facts.In chapter 10.. "Family issues and support" on page 298, the author states "Some of Bruno Bettelheim's "cold & distant" mothers, could have had mild forms of autism themeselves" This, the author states, is from "some professionals." I never heard this before! Also, that parents of ASD children have a "slightly higher incidence of depression and other mental disorders..and health problems in general, perhaps related to an underlying immune system dysfunction." THIS IS NOT A MEDICAL FACT AT ALL! THE AUTHOR IS VERY NEGLIGENT IN EVEN STATING THIS!! To further add insult to injury, Ms. Waltz, who is not a physician, states.."Some of this may be genetically based, although some may derive from being in a difficult situation." This is the the most ridiculous claim, that being the parent of an autistic child will compromise their health! So much of this book is just an opinion and not researced at all in fact. I would take with a grain of salt what this author has to "say" about autism!

As the parents of a three-year boy diagnosed with PDD-NOS in Jan. 2002, my wife and I are quickly devouring as much information on the subject as we can as we begin to advocate for our son's future (therapy, special education, behavior modification methods and possible nutritional/dietary changes). We have purchased or read nearly twenty books on the subject and, by far, Mitzi Waltz' summary of this broad spectrum disorder is the most well organized and written summary we have found.

Here is a list of chapters/appendices of the book:

1. THE MEDICAL FACTS ABOUT PDDs
2. PDD CATEGORIES
3. GETTING A DIAGNOSIS
4. GETTING STARTED
5. MEDICAL INTERVENTIONS
6. THERAPEUTIC INTERVENTIONS
7. OTHER INTERVENTIONS
8. INSURANCE
9. SCHOOL (EXCELLENT DISCUSSION OF IEPs, 504's, EDUCATION OPTIONS)
10. FAMILY
11. FINANCES
12. SUPPORT
13. LIVING WITH PDDs
A. RESOUCES (OUTSTANDING LIST OF BOOKS, WEBSITES)
B. SUPPORT AND ADVOCACY (A ONE-STOP SHOPPING LIST OF AUTISM SOCIETIES/SUPPORT GROUPS WITH ADDRESSES, PHONE #'S, INTERNET SITES)
C. RESEARCH AND TESTING FACILITIES
D. MEDICAL REFERENCE
E. SUPPLEMENT REFERENCE
F. DIAGNOSTIC TOOLS
NOTES
GLOSSARY OF ACRONYMS (A MUST FOR ANYONE NEW TO PDDs)
INDEX (EXCELLENT WAY TO PINPOINT YOUR NEEDS)

Several other excellent books tell the personal accounts of parents as they come to grips with the aftermath of a diagnosis and are wonderful therapy for parents to validate their feelings and outlooks. The Waltz book is written in plain language while covering the topic in a comprehensive and logical manner. It will serve as a reference for my family for years to come and I highly recommend it to EVERY parent who faces the challenges of living day-to-day with a child/adult diagnosed with a Pervasive Developmental Disorder. Thank you Mitzi!...

Since I feel that the majority of the reviews below give a good picture of this text, I will confine
myself to commenting on the review headed "The author gived some opinions as facts!"

Actually, it is well-established that there are genetic factors in some forms of autism, and that
autistic-spectrum behaviors are much more likely to occur in families with autistic children
than in the general population. The fact that Bettleheim was wrong about "refridgerator
mothers" does not mean that there are no mothers of autism-spectrum children who have
autistic behaviors. The occurances of allergies and resultant sinus problems are certainly more
common in persons on the autism-spectrum. And there are a number of medical conditions
that have a genetic component that are commonly co-morbid with autism-spectrum disorders.

None of these facts would actually imply that "being a parent of an autistic child will
compromise their health!" Parents are no more responsible for the specific genetic makeup of
their children than they are responsible for whether a coin they toss turns up heads or tails. In
fact, the genetic traits associated with autism are now believed to be also so strongly
associated with extreme skill in science, mathematics, engineers, and related areas. Genetically speaking, people who are severely "classically" autistic are massively similar to those who are
sciences "whizzes" (and, of course, both autism and strong science skills often occur in
the same people).

Additionally, parents with autistic behaviors and traits are of great benefit to their aut-spec
children, as such parents have more ability to empathize with them. It certainly was/is true in my relationships with my parents!

The above statements re family traits and co-morbidity can be confirmed by looking up a few
of the following (in order of ease of reading):

Grandin, Temple 1995. _Thinking in Pictures_ (chapters 9 and 10).

Silberman, Steve 2001. "The 'Geek Syndrome'." _Wired Magazine_ December 2001.

Delong and Dwyer, 1988. "Correlation of family history and specific autistic subgroups:
Asperger's syndrome and bipolar affective disease." _Journal of Autism and Developmental
Disorders_ 18: 593 - 600

Smalley, McCracken, and Tanguay 1995. "Autism, affective disorder and social phobia."
_American Journal of Medical Genetics 60: 19 - 26

_The Biology of the Autistic Syndromes_ by Christopher Gilberg and Mary Coleman (see
section III: "Diseases that Have a Subgroup of Patients With Autistic Symptoms.")

This book is a must for all parents who fear that their toddler is not meeting developmental milestones. It provides great summary information about a diagnosis of PDD, possible therapies,etc. with being overly pessimistic or optimistic.

It's true this book is definitely not for the weak of heart, as Dr. Catalano, father of Thomas attests. It is a book that will evoke just about every strong emotion under the sun.

The children featured in this book all suffer from varying degrees of Childhood Disintegrative Disorder, or CDD. The children all reached normal developmental milestones within the first three years of their lives with the exception of one girl who began her downward developmental spiral at two. The penultimate child featured in this book was described as being developmentally delayed and did not appear to suffer from CDD so much as developmental delays. Two children appeared to have some form of psychosis. One child benefitted greatly from the anti-psychotic Largactil. The child's mother insisted on having a prescribed anti-psychotic agent for her child. Risperidol failed whereas Largactil allowed the child to function at close to age appropriate levels.

Whether or not these two children suffered from psychosis is a matter of conjecture; the bizarre ideation and equally bizarre verbalizations and seemingly disorganized thinking and inability to make contact in meaningful ways with others suggested this as a possibility. Sadly, many people with autism have been misdiagnosed with psychosis, so it is strongly urged not to jump to that conclusion. Many people with autism and not CDD often make utterances others find bizarre; in the case of people at the higher functioning end of the spectrum have provided the rationale for their statements, thus dispelling the question of psychosis.

Autism, unlike psychosis is characterized by rigid thinking and is accompanied by craving for order. People with autism tend to be highly organized, whether it is lining up like objects; sorting out objects by category or insisting that things be in a specific order. People with autism are grounded in reality, but communication is impeded to varying degrees based upon the severity of the condition.

CDD accompanied with autism is a very devastating form of autism in that the child loses acquired skills and often does not catch up. In some cases, Landau-Kleffner Syndrome is at play which includes a form of epilepsy. Theories have been expounded as to what, if any causal link exists between LKS and autism in children suffering from CDD.

Most of the children featured in this book have traveled down the LKS treatment road. LKS is given a 50% cure rate, so one can only hope the children in this book will make that recovery. Although all made great strides, at the time of the book's publication, they were still in great need of support.

Each chapter is written by a parent of a child suffering from CDD. Actually, FAMILIES suffer from CDD as it affects every member. The only thing I did not like was the heavy handed use of the word perseverate. That cost this book one star. The parent of one child said that highly damning word "was once again part of our vocabulary." In truth, it is a highly negative and destructive word that has hurt many and is best avoided. "Repetitive verbalizations / repetitive behaviors" and, in the case of topic repetition, "special interests" or "intense focus/concentration" are far better replacements; are more accurate and speak to tolerance whereas that other word simply does not.

Every personal account in this book is quite interesting; enlightening and thought provoking. The hopeful note remains throughout the book and there are some funny moments, such as when one child refused to don his "beetle" constume and dance with his fellow "beetles." One can't help but smile and wonder if perhaps he was receiving some cultural exposure to the Beatles and a spoof of the Beatles.

No doubt people will find some solace in that they are not alone; other families have and are still coping with this devastating condition. Optimism still abounds; one child, a twin with an especially severe form of CDD was enrolled in what sounded like an optimal school program where his needs were being met. Another child was followed in a diary format and one can pinpoint to the day when his transformation took place. This in turn is helpful to others so as to be hyperalert as to what to watch for.

Different approaches were used with the children from Lovaas' time tested behaviorist methods to holistic/natural alternatives. Education and hospitalization were included; knowing what resources were available in Australia and New Zealand was invaluable information.

This book seemed to serve a two-fold purpose: 1) it provided information and personal accounts of CDD and 2) it reassured families that they are not alone in coping with witnessing this devastating developmental descent in children who suffer from CDD.

this is a great book.i have red it a few times. it is hard to find info on this disodre since it is rare. however this book helped me alot.

First, I'll explain what I liked about this book:
It is very informative. Each parent gives a detailed description of their child, starting with what they were like before their skill loss, describing the skill loss, then how they were like afterwards. Some parents even list it by ages, for example having one subheading "0-1 year", then one "1-2 years" and so forth. The combination of descriptions that go beyond the medical labels, and the fact that multiple children are described, making it easy to notice commonalities, make this book very informative.
Ironically, what I dislike about this book has also been insightful. I formed the opinion I will give below by reading this book.
What I didn't like:
The book starts out "To loose a child is a tragedy. To loose a child who still lives is beyond belief."
A normal child becoming autistic is viewed as losing a child, yet an autistic child becoming normal is viewed as getting a child back. Yet, if in fact the view of them as a different person is accurate, then they've both lost and gained a child. I watched a nature show once in which a wildebeast who'd lost her calf adopted an orphaned calf. When your child becomes a "different child", it's like that wildebeast who lost one calf and got another.
But that's not how it is viewed. Why? The uncomfortable answer is that, despite the advances made in disability rights, many people, deep down, do not consider autistics to be real people. In fact, one parent has a poem "Searching for The Blue Fairy" in which she says "Turn our boy of wood into one who is real".
Truly, "this book is not for the faint of heart." If you are faint of heart and prejudiced, the "tragedy" of these childrens' lives will hit you hard. If you are faint of heart and not prejudiced, it will be very upsetting how these parents view the children.

I have a son who has been diagnosed with Childhood Disintegrative Disorder And every thing that I read in this book is true.This is an awfull disorder and what makes it worse is the fact that nobody knows where it comes from and how to prevent it.Reading this book was good for me, it helped me to know that I am not alone.

The disorder is defined and eight case studies as viewed by parents are described. In so doing, various educational and medical avenues and life-style options are identified as alternatives in the treatment.

I consider that this book is a succinct, invaluable and wide source of information that might provide a critical role in assisting parents to cope with this devastating disorder. In addition, pediatricians are provided with an insight into the plight of the families of certain of their clientele.

Congratulations to Robert Catalano on bringing together the stories from diverse families in three continents and five countries.

This is one book where I have truly learned how nutritionally deficient in a particular nutrient a person can become. Before reading this book, I had not even thought of whether my children were consuming enough Omega-3's in their daily diet.

The LCP Solution gives an excellent history of how as humans we have deviated from the normal staple of food our species once had consumed. Past humans depended on the intake of fish, but today with fast food and so many other options, fish is not normally put on the dinner table daily. In my house, we are lucky if we have fish every other week.

Further chapters delve into the details of exactly why Omega-3 is necessary for our bodies and more specifically our mind. Deficiencies can not only produce skin disorders but also mind disorders, which are manageable through the supplementation of Omega-3's back into our daily diet.

Real-life stores are included as well as relevant studies and research. The medical and homeopathic communities are beginning to fully embrace the topic. In fact, my son's ADHD Pediatrician, as well as his regular Pediatrician both recommend Omega-3 supplementation.

Omega-3 supplementation has become a nutritional priority in my house because of The LCP Solution. And I am very happy to report that my 11 year old's eczema has completely resolved, his language arts and reading skills have increased, and his ADHD has become manageable. I am not professing that you will have such miraculous results, but this book is definitely worth a read.

Visit Dr. Stordy's website which includes new research, resources, book reviews, stories, and you can subscribe to her newsletter. [...]

I've had this book for quite some time. It's ear-marked, highlighted, and pages marked with paper-clips. Very informative and proven true in my son's case!

I have read similar accounts in separate studies, along with talking with other parents. The EFAs can produce significant changes in our special kids!

We started the Essential Fatty Acids after reading about them on a Speech Apraxia site. That is only one of my son's diagnoses. I suppose his brain injury due to hypoxia (lack of oxygen) is our greatest challenge and his Dyspraxia, Mild CP, Speech Apraxia, and Autism Spectrum are secondary to it.

He was helped considerably when I was giving him two capsules after reading the Speech Apraxia forums several years ago. I mean, the EFAs weren't going to hurt him! After reading this book, I found that I needed to give him five capsules for three months and drop it to one-half for maintenance. His therapists noticed considerable differences and I had not mentioned the supplements to them. I wanted impartial input and they saw what our family was experiencing. My son had more ability to concentrate, less behavior differences, he retained information better, and more useful energy. His auditory processing difficulties improved.

I can't imagine any parent unwilling to help their child when there is no possibility of harm. In any case, the EFAs are beneficial even if one sees no apparent change.

As with other treatments/therapies/supplements, every special needs child will respond differently. We have used Nordic Naturals Lemon flavored oils and capsules. Dr. Stordy gives several recommendations in her book.

I recommend QUALITY EFAs to all moms of special needs children, along with this book! It is over 300 pages of helpful information!

I wish that it would have been available 16 years ago when my son was born.

The most helpful information provided in this book might be summarized in one sentence: Eating a healthy diet will help your family in many ways, and supplements can be helpful as well. Those supplements--more familiarly known as omega-3 fatty acids, the EPA and DHA of other nutrition-oriented books--have largely been lost in today's typical American diet.

Few people would disagree that there are genetic components to ADD, ADHD, dyslexia and dyspraxia. But that isn't the end of the story. Family members that live together also tend to eat similar diets, and eating habits are transmitted (though they may evolve) from one generation to the next. So implement a better diet, and add those LCPs. Just don't stop there.

What this book lacks is a meaningful discussion of a third factor: the role of situational determinants of behavioral response. That's a fancy way of saying that how the adults in a child's life manage and respond to the child's behavior does matter! No pill--Ritalin or LCPs or anything else--can make up for a chaotic environment or for inconsistent parenting. Developmentally appropriate structure and routines in any child's life support good behavior in the classroom and at home--and do it with empathy for the child's struggles to learn this new way.

For an excellent understanding of how to implement the third factor, see Dr. John Gottman's superb book, "Raising An Emotionally Intelligent Child: The heart of parenting." As a social worker, I recommend it highly--not only for parents of children with challenges, but for parents with children of all ages. Gottman (a psychologist) advocates what he calls 'emotional coaching' as the way to address problematic situations. If you read it and apply its principles, your life and that of the children with whom you interact with be forever changed in a better way.

This is an excellent book. The basic idea of the book is that there is link between lack of Omega-3 in the diets of people with ADD and other differences. The book offers research to help proove this theory. It also offers a suggestions on how to add omega-3 to our diets.

Is it possible to rate a book higher than 5 stars? When I first read this book, my first reaction was anger. I was mad, because I had never heard of most of the information in this book. This stuff SHOULD be in the public domain. Why hasn't the media reported on any of these studies? Then I thought about it. If this stuff really does work, many companies stand to lose significant billions of dollars in revenue from the sale of ritalin and aderall.
My next reaction was great joy. Finally, there was hope. No drugs, and still helpful. This was too good to be true. So, I tried it. First on myself (I was diagnosed as hyperactive and put on ritalin when I was 5 - there was no ADHD yet in those days.). After a week of supplementing, I found I was able to concentrate like never before. Both the quality and quantity of my work have greatly improved. I figured if it helped me, maybe it would help my son. He has sensory integration dysfunction, ADHD, and a few other problems. I started supplementing him on Sunday. When I dropped him off to school the next Thursday, his kindergarten teacher took me aside and asked if my wife and I were doing anything differently with him, therapy wise. At first, I forgot about the LCP's and said no. I asked her why. She said that it had been my son's best week of the school year (it was April). He was concentrating much better. He was able to complete his school work. He was speaking much better and much clearer. He was able to follow directions. He was getting along with the other kids. He had far fewer fits. In her words, it was like we had transformed him into a different child. I then remembered the LCP supplement and told her about it. We came to the conclusion that since that was the only different thing, that must be responsible for the difference. Our family life is also improved. He has fewer fits. He is able to handle change much better. When he wants to, he is able to concentrate much better. He is also learning at a much more rapid pace and has caught up to and surpassed many kids his age, academically.
Thank you Dr. Stordy.