Homogenised & Webinated by
Sheldon Q. Bartleby, Esq.

Syndromes with Social Implications

Bibliographic references and an index are provided. Each chapter has a boxed diagram entitled 'Brief summary of strategies' which outlines the main points discussed within. Appendix 1 contains resource materials on emotions and friendships, including thirty-seven brief annotations on books covering topics such as feelings, social conflicts and how to make friends, and includes world-wide websites. Appendix 2 provides cartoon-like facial charts of emotions for teaching Asperger's children how to read facial emotions. Appendix 3 provides four tables of diagnostic criteria used by the World Health Organisation, DSM IV (1994) the American Physiological Association which is used as a standard reference world wide. Tony Attwood writes from twenty five years’ experience as a Clinical Psychologist specialising in Asperger's Syndrome.

An index and references to each chapter are provided, along with a list of commonly used abbreviations and websites. There is also an interesting and useful list of medications by generic name alongside their brand names. “Fifty-four Ways to Make the World a Better Place” have been collated by the authors. This list was accomplished with the assistance of parents from “O.A.S.I.S.”, a charitable organisation which supports children with any of the varied forms of autism, including Asperger’s. Patricia Bashe is a founding member of OASIS and Barbara Kirby is another of its founders and its current webmaster.

Small font size could make it difficult to read, however, Dr Blocks' interesting style of writing makes it nearly impossible to put the book down. An index and bibliography are provided along with a resources section, which provides a starting point for locating similar books and information. Dr Block studied medicine at the age of forty-five becoming an Osteopathic M.D. and developing her philosophy on illness and drug, which concentrates on identifying the problem, not prescribing drugs initially. Dr Mary Ann Block has founded a medical facility for adults and children with chronic health problems as a direct result of nursing her own child and her medical experiences.

Boxed sections, bullet points, diagrams, numbered lists, cartoons and reproductions of clinical brain scans along with real-life examples from parents and children all contribute towards making this a fascinating text. Part Four - Appendices –is a useful list of books and organisations relating to O.C.D. Sample questions from an assessment instrument used by professionals is given in Appendix Two, so parents have some ideas of what obsessions and medical problems the professional is looking for. Appendix C discusses ways of encouraging children to sleep and finally an index is provided. Tamar E. Chansky. PhD. lives in Philadelphia, USA and is a member of the American Psychological Association and Anxiety Disorder Association of America. Chansky founded and now directs the Children's Centre for OCD and Anxiety.

A third section of the book is made up of twenty-one appendices, ranging in topic from diagnostic criteria for diagnosing ADD/ODD/CD to descriptions of commonly used drugs to diet controversy to coordination ideas. Appendice Nineteen, which discuses latest research literature, is now a little dated but provides a good starting point for further research. Relevant contact details for ‘Tough Love’ ADD associations are included, finally an index is given. Use of cartoons humorously illustrates the often difficult life parents experience with an ADD child. Dr. Christopher Green is the author of 'Toddler Taming' and 'Babies!' and with Dr. Kit Chee works for the Royal Alexandra Hospital, Sydney.

This is yet another of those often-misdiagnosed conditions as it can mimic or exaggerate psychiatric conditions such as anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorders.

An index, which also lists bibliographical details, along with a glossary of terms and notes to each chapter, are provided. Appendices in this book are most fascinating. The 'Sensory Defensiveness Survival Kit' talks about deep breathing, diet and ways to cope with our artificial world, while Appendice B discusses ‘Defensive Reactions to Sensation', such as to touch, pain, vibrations, and temperature and how to cope. The resource guide is expansive and includes references to every therapy or product discussed. Nearly every listing has a web address, and although North American biased, links from sites should help with finding contacts in the southern hemisphere. Sharon Heller, Ph.D. writes about sensory defensiveness from her own experience as a sufferer of this syndrome and from her extensive work in the field.

Writing in a pedantic yet humorous style, Luke utilises personal photographs of his family and cartoons provided by a sister to illustrate and reinforce points he wishes to make. A 'further reading' guide lists pertaint reading for parents and suffers of Asperger. A list of idioms with explanations, something people with Asperger have a great deal comprehending, is given. Lastly a comprehensive index concludes this fascinating text. Luke Jackson is a thirteen year old writing about his experiences with Asperger syndrome.

Each chapter has its own list of references to books or resources. The text also has notes to several chapters included before the bibliography and a well organised index. Fictional and real characters that appear to be quirky or have Asperger are listed on p343. Perri Klass, M.D. and Eileen Costello, M.D. have much in common as both work in paediatrics at Boston University School of Medicine, have graduated from Harvard and are each mothers to three children.

Kranowitz provides comparison tables detailing where a 'normal child's' milestones would be and contrasts it with a child suffering from sensory integration dysfunction. The section on how to read this book is most useful and should be studied. Included is a set of; sample sensorimotor questions for parents and teachers which are provided in order to help the expert diagnosing a child particular area of need. An appendix explaining the function of the central nervous system in plain English, followed by an extensive glossary is a 'must read'. The resources section lists catalogs, clinics, organisations of which almost all have Internet details and a list of Internet resources is provided. A recommended reading list is most comprehensive and the selected bibliography contains references to some weighty academic information

Carol Stock Kransowitz, gained her M.A at the George Washington University, followed by many years practical experience interacting with children and their families. Teaching in pre-school since 1976, her observations have lead her to researching and developing programmes to help these out-of-sync children.

Good use has been made of bullet-points, bold headings and sliding scales enabling parents to define where their child fits in to the discussion. A noticeably small font size has been used in this text, making it harder for some readers to use. Most chapters have a summary list at its conclusion. While an index and a recommended reading list are provided, no bibliographic sources are given to details within the text. Mary Sheedy Kurcinka, M.A. is a licensed teacher and parent educator with over twenty years experience working in Minnesota, U.S.A. She has won awards for her work with Early Childhood Family Education.

Very useful sections regarding causes of conduct disorders, living with conduct disorder and important strategies to support recovery, would be invaluable to the parent or caregiver. ‘Treatment of Conduct Disorders’ goes into some detail regarding treatment options for example Psychosocial treatment, non-medical treatments such as cultural issues, relationships and the environment.. Complimentary therapies which are non western medicines/treatments, often referred to as a holistic approach, include yoga, medication, massage and herbal treatments. Different types of medications, including stimulants, anti-psychotic drugs and antidepressants are carefully explained along with their resulting side effects. The legislation section covers laws which have implications for mental health sufferers in New Zealand. Also included with each act are details of governmental agencies which can supply advice, information and publications relating to particular mental issues and the law. Acts include Health and Disability Commissioners Act 1994, The Children, Young Persons and Their Families Act 1986 and The Criminal Justice Act 1985. Further information regarding useful websites, groups and organisations, books - most of which are in the public library system and Mental Health Foundation contact details are supplied. This text is designed as a starting point for those wishing to explore O.D.D and C.D in more depth.

Black and white photographs illustrate the exercises recommended within this book. Boxed sections highlight particularly useful points and good use is made of italics and bullet points to keep readers engaged. A glossary of terms is most useful. References and an index are provided. Nancy O'Dell and Patricia Cook both earned doctorates in Learning Disabilities from Purdue University and co-direct the Miriam Bener Diagnostic Centre.

Combining the feedback from thousands of parents of bipolar children and the latest scientific research from many fields, the authors have published a comprehensive text discussing relevant issues. The book consists of four sections. Section one tackles the issue of accurate diagnosis and treatment. Included are a drug avoidance chart and another aid which outlines the course of the disorder. Section two describes the two main causes of the disorder; genetic aspects and psychological dimensions. Section three, centres on living and coping with bipolar disorder, and covers such issues as family impact, school, adolescence and hospitalization. Be aware of the North American bias in this section. Neuro-psychological testing of the bipolar child includes an easily understood explanation of I.Q. tests and what they reveal. Lastly, section four focuses on parents’ needs expressed through the bipolar listservs discussion groups.

Full bibliographic details are listed under the chapters they appear in and a comprehensive index is supplied. A bipolar child questionnaire for parent’s use is supplied on p417, and symptom checklist appears in chapter three. ‘Resources’ includes ten organisations, all American, although each one has a website attached, and are therefore useful to parents in New Zealand. The resource section then goes on to list nine websites specific to bipolar from angles such as teaching aids, relatives of bipolar sufferers and Medline (National Library of Medicine USA) and suggests how to search this database. The last section, on websites, includes links to catalogues for products aimed at achieving life and mood changes, and also suggests practical products which help children with sensory integration difficulties to cope with clothing and educational issues.

Good use is made of bullet points and bold headings, while italics and easy to understand diagrams convey a wealth of information. Appendix A provides a list of scientific papers for you and your doctor to read and discuss. Appendix B is an elimination diet and diary based on an individual child, showing how to identify and remove possibly harmful foods from your child’s diet. Diagrams provided are easy to understand. Appendix C is a list of books, websites and newsgroups with brief annotations showing their usefulness. The notes section provides full references to books, journals and articles discussed in the book and an index concludes the text.

The text is broken into thirteen parts with accompanying speeches by Dr. Sutton. Bold headings with C.D.(conduct disorder) diagrams and a "worth repeating statement" reinforce key ideas postulated by Dr. Sutton. Each page has main points listed with extra, short italicized explanations in a boxed form on the outside edge of the page. Plenty of boxed statements, diagrams and the occasional photograph to convey body language, along with cartoons for humour, make this an eminently readable text. Sutton provides references used in his work and knowledge quiz testing parents on what they have learnt from this book and the compact disks it is also possible to obtain a completion certificate. Dr Sutton has had thirty years experience in working with young people, initially as a teacher and more recently specialising in teaching teachers.

A child who is 'not quite right' with a hard to define problem might fall into this bracket, not autism as people recognise it but a 'shadow' of autistic traits. Firstly the author provides a overview of the pervasive developmental disorder range with in-depth discussion on PDD-NOS. Secondly individual chapters concentrate on diagnosis, a range treatment options, school, family issues and building support systems. A final chapter has contributions from children and adults with pervasive developmental disorders.

Appendix A is a list of books relating to autistic spectrum disorders, including a wide range of websites. Appendix B is a list of support and advocacy agencies, Appendix C offers a range of research and testing facilities specialising in autistic range syndromes. Appendix D is an extensive description of prescribed medications, appendix E carries a discussion of herbal and nutritional supplements. Appendix F provides diagnostic tools for symptoms of autistic disorders. Following on the author provides reference notes to chapters 1, 3, 5, 7 13 and appendix D - medication. Finally a glossary of acronyms and a substantial index concludes this rather in-depth book. Mitz Waltz - a professional journalist - has written this book from many years of research she undertook, in order to understand the diagnosis P.D.D-N.O.S .given in relation to her seven year old son.