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| Alphabet Kids - From ADD to Zellweger Syndrome: A Guide to Developmental, Neurobiological and Psychological Disorders for Parents and Professionals | 
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Avg. Customer Rating:  (based on 43 reviews)
Sales Rank: 46992
Category: Book
Author: Robbie Woliver
Publisher: Jessica Kingsley Pub
Studio: Jessica Kingsley Pub
Manufacturer: Jessica Kingsley Pub
Label: Jessica Kingsley Pub
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Unknown), English (Published)
Media: Hardcover
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 416
ISBN: 1843108801
Dewey Decimal Number: 618.928588003
EAN: 9781843108801
ASIN: 1843108801
Publication Date: November 15, 2008 (New: Last 30 Days)
Shipping: Eligible for Super Saver Shipping
Availability: Not yet published
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Product Description
From ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) to ZS (Zellweger Syndrome)-there seems to be an alphabet disorder for almost every behavior, from those caused by serious, rare genetic diseases to more common learning disabilities that hinder children's academic and social progress.Alphabet Kids have disorders that are often concurrent, interconnected or mistaken for one another, for example, the freguent combination of ASD, OCD, SID and ADHD-hence, 'Alphabet Kids'. If a doctor only diagnoses one condition, he or she may have missed others. As the rates of these disorders dramatically rise, "Alphabet Kids" explains it all. Robbie Woliver covers 70 childhood disorders, providing information on causes, cures, treatments and prognoses. Chapters include a comprehensive list of signs and symptoms, and the disorders are illustrated with often heartbreaking, but always inspirational true-life stories of a child with the particular disorder.This comprehensive, easy-to-read go-to guide will help parents to sort through all the interconnected childhood developmental, neurobiological and psychological disorders and serve as a roadmap to help start the families' journey for correct diagnoses, effective treatment and better understanding of their Alphabet Kids.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 38 more reviews...
Not for hypochondriacs or anxious parents December 3, 2008
"Alphabet kids" follows a very simple concept: It offers short (2-5 pp) summaries of a wide range of neurological and psychological disorders of childhood, organized alphabetically, of course. Each entry begins with a "Did you know?" section that outlines interesting facts or case study involving the disorder; that is followed by a list of symptoms. Each entry also discusses possible causes of the disorder, treatment options, and prognosis.
I am a psychology professor (though not a clinician) and a parent of a child on the autism spectrum. Strengths of the book include its straightforward and very clear writing. Disorders are described in a clear language with jargon kept to the essential minimum. More important, the authors summarize the scientific literature and represent the latest consensus regarding treatment and causes with a high degree of accuracy, at least as best as I can determine with respect to the disorders I am most familiar with. This is all very good.
However, I found myself wondering about the size of the potential audience for this reference book. As others have noted, it can't substitute for the DSM-IVR, or the upcoming DSM-V, which are the authoritative diagnostic reference for professionals. It may also be of less interest or utility for parents of children who have one (or a small number) of disorders and are looking for a more comprehensive treatment of the relevant disorder rather than a broad survey of many disorders.
This book may thus be best suited for educators or other people who work with children (daycare and preschool staff; youth athletics coaches; adults who supervise extracurricular activities with children such as Boys/Girls Club or Scouting), who may encounter a broad variety of children in their experiences and would appreciate a quick and clear description of any diagnosis they come across.
The main concern I have with this book is that it may provoke needless anxiety in parents who are prone to worry about their children. Many of these disorders are rather nonspecific in their symptoms and causes. A "perfectly normal" child may display an alarming number of symptoms of a disorder, evoking needless worry on the parents' part. Thus, I would hope that parents who buy this book because they are worried about their child's behavior do not stop here but rather seek professional advice.
Good Addition to My Office Library November 26, 2008
In no wise an exhaustive in depth review of the subject, this is still a useful guide for the layperson who may need assistance in determining whether more research or referral to a medical professional is needed in a specific case.
Not being a parent, I can't comment on how it may help parents in assessing and dealing with their children. I do however come into contact with children whose parents lack educational and financial resources. This guide is written in an easy to understand form that aids me in discussing with such parents behaviors that may puzzle or upset them. The recognition of a possible problem is the first step toward appropriate treatment and may short circuit inappropriate responses.
If you deal with children at all I would recommend this book for your shelf.
 A good tool for lay persons and beginners November 26, 2008
Diagnosing various ailments in small children has been a booming field since the mainstream popularization of psychology during the mid-20th Century... The trend has had its ups an downs. These days, doctors are less likely to prescribe shock therapy or handfuls of Ritalin than they were in the 1970s, although there is still a widespread reliance on pharmaceuticals to handle behavioral problems. In part this is because many diagnoses have moved from semi-guesswork into medical and physiological explanations... hence the proliferation of "alphabet" diagnoses, dozens if not hundreds of conditions and syndromes that are both bewildering and a relief to families struggling with disturbing childhood ailments.
This book is an attempt to demystify some of the more common "alphabet" conditions, making the information accessible to a wider, non-medical audience. Typically each gets a three or four page description -- this book is not as detailed or as thorough a resource as more official tools such as the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (or "DSM"), published by the American Psychiatric Association. Like the DSM, "Alphabet Kids" isn't completely perfect, and will be the focus of heated debate among families and medical/mental health advocates with differing opinions about the role of medical answers to childhood problems. For those cases where medical intervention does make sense, this book could be a good guidepost to help pinpoint or explain various conditions... I wouldn't recommend using it as your only resource, but it might help families learn the specialized terminology and concepts they need to navigate through the medical establishment. It's certainly a good starting point. (ReadThatAgain book reviews)
A fast reference for the curious November 20, 2008
Alphabet Kids is a highly readable reference that deciphers the many diagnostic acronyms that are floating around our children today. Most conditions (acronyms) are explained in the following format:
TERMS USED IN THIS CHAPTER - (Lists any abreviations and/or additional acronyms used in explaining the syndrome in question.)
SOUND FAMILIAR? - A case study documenting the traits and behaviors present with the syndrome or diagnosis.
DID YOU KNOW? - Additional information and insight (sometimes from the family, physician, therapist or child, himself) on the condition and treatment.
HOW IT IS MANIFESTED - The etiology and progression of the disorder.
BY THE NUMBERS - The rate at which the disorder/condition occurs in the population.
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS - Self-explanitory.
TREATMENT - Types of treatment and/or therapy available.
PROGNOSIS - What to expect as a life outcome of having the disorder/condition.
SOURCES AND RESOURCES - A list of organizations, books, and Web sites for additional information gathering and support.
This is a highly readable and interesting guide. I did find, however, that some of the case studies were not illustrative of someone who had been diagnosed with the condition.(i.e. NLD - Nonverbal Learning Disorder - case study is lifted from a 16 year-old's blog and does not sound like a NLD affected child at all.)
But all in all, Alphabet Kids is an easy to read reference and nice to have on hand if you have a general interest or work with a diverse population of children.
Great Resource "Lite" November 20, 2008
As someone who works with developmentally delayed children I find this book to be a great "mini" resource. I find the book useful when someone mentions a diagnosis I am unfamiliar with just to have a basic idea of what they are talking about. Alphabet Kids gives information and characteristics of a "textbook" case of the syndrome, disorder, etc. Please understand that not all children have each characteristic/behavior/etc. listed in Alphabet Kids and often these qualities can be something that is characteristic of a typically developing or functioning child too. This book should in no way be grounds for pseudo-diagnosis, psychologists would never use this, but I could see parents/school faculty/etc. thinking that they can label a kid based on this book. That would be dangerous and not the book's intent. Rather this is a good book for those who want to get a generic idea about a diagnosis and understand that it is just that: a generic idea. There is a reason people study these disorders for decades. For those who would like a more clinical resource the Desk Reference to the Diagnostic Criteria From DSM-IV-TR (Desk Reference to the Diagnostic Criteria from Dsm) is a better pocket guide as it gives the criterion for diagnosis. The DSM IV (and it's desk reference) are what professionals use and gives a very thorough criterion based description of many disorders. However, if you just want a touch of understanding, Alphabet Kids is the way to go.
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