Reading and Attention Disorders: Neurobiological Correlates

Rating:
Summary: Finally -- Thorough, Objective, Even-Handed
Review: I rushed from a first read to report back on this extraordinary collection. I have ordered a number of books on the topics of Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and Reading Disability (RD) and have been disappointed to find a lack of even-handed treatment of the topics, a lack of consideration for various perspectives.

I must disclaim my review with one comment about what I was looking for: help in truly understanding why it is that I have trouble reading. A partially proven hypothesis wouldn't have been satisfactory for me. A book that provides moral support, though helpful on many occasions, was not my interest. I've been focused on wanting to know why, with the hope in mind that if I understand why I'll be better equipped to find a solution for myself.

Hartmann's books, ADD Success Stories and Healing ADD, are nice reads and supportive, but they left me without the confidence I sought about truly understanding ADD and without the confidence that Hartmann had done the hard research required to be sure he understood it himself.

Another title, The ADD Brain by Monroe A. Gross, promised a rigorous and clinical approach, but it turned out to be a not-fully-credible argument that depression is actually caused by ADD. Gross argues that the primary action of SSRI's like Prozac is not to address the underlying causes of depression but rather to address the underlying causes of ADD. Solving ADD, he argues, is the hidden mechanism by which SSRI's end up solving depression. Interesting theory, but Monroe's need to prove the validity of this iconoclastic brainchild is palpable in every paragraph. I found the "proof" ... to be sloppy.

Reading and Attention Disorders: Neurobiological correlates, edited by Drake D. Duane, is a compilation of legitimate research. To be sure, it is academic in nature. Concrete therapies that come out of the read are few. The first read leaves you stimulated and better educated ... but knowing that you'll have to return to the material to really understand everything.

The chapters are as follows:

(1) DIx Genes, the Striatal Subventricular Zone, and the Development of Neocortical Interneurons by Stewart A. Anderson.

(2) Colorado Twin Study of Reading Disability by DeFries, Knopik, and Wadsworth

(3) Structural and Functional Neuroanatomy in Reading Disorder by Filipek, Pennington (author of Diagnosing Learning Disorders), Simon, et al.

(4) Klinefelter's Syndrome: A Genetic Model for Learning Disabilities in the Verbal and Frontal--Attentional Domains by Geschwind and Boone

(5) The Magnocellular/Parietal System and Visual Symptoms in Dyslexia by Maragaret Livingstone

(6) Moving Research from the Laboratory to Clinics and Classrooms by Tallal, Merzenich, Jenkins, and Miller

(7) Dyslexia: From Epidemiology to Neurobiology by Shaywitz and Shwaywitz

(8) Functional Neuroanatomy of Dyslexic Subtypes by Frank Wood and Lynn Flowers

(9) Linkages Between Attention Deficit Disorders and Reading Disability by Schulte, Conners, and Osborne

(10) Neurological Factors Underlying the Comorbidity of Attentional Dysfunction and Dyslexia by Kytja Voeller

(11) The Abilities of Those with Reading Disabilities: Focusing on the Talents of People with Dyslexia

Each chapter includes an up-front summary by the author/researcher, a concluding-remarks section by the author/researcher, and an easily understood "Editors Comments" passage written by Drake Duane who summarizes the chapter.

If (a) you've really been trying to sink your teeth into the problems of reading disability and ADD, (b) you've wondered what the connection between the two might be, and (c) you're not afraid to tackle analytical material to get to the bottom of it, this will be one of the best sources you discover. It's the latest research. You'll know you're not missing anything.

Rating:
Summary: Finally -- Thorough, Objective, Even-Handed
Review: I rushed from a first read to report back on this extraordinary collection. I have ordered a number of books on the topics of Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and Reading Disability (RD) and have been disappointed to find a lack of even-handed treatment of the topics, a lack of consideration for various perspectives.

I must disclaim my review with one comment about what I was looking for: help in truly understanding why it is that I have trouble reading. A partially proven hypothesis wouldn't have been satisfactory for me. A book that provides moral support, though helpful on many occasions, was not my interest. I've been focused on wanting to know why, with the hope in mind that if I understand why I'll be better equipped to find a solution for myself.

Hartmann's books, ADD Success Stories and Healing ADD, are nice reads and supportive, but they left me without the confidence I sought about truly understanding ADD and without the confidence that Hartmann had done the hard research required to be sure he understood it himself.

Another title, The ADD Brain by Monroe A. Gross, promised a rigorous and clinical approach, but it turned out to be a not-fully-credible argument that depression is actually caused by ADD. Gross argues that the primary action of SSRI's like Prozac is not to address the underlying causes of depression but rather to address the underlying causes of ADD. Solving ADD, he argues, is the hidden mechanism by which SSRI's end up solving depression. Interesting theory, but Monroe's need to prove the validity of this iconoclastic brainchild is palpable in every paragraph. I found the "proof" ... to be sloppy.

Reading and Attention Disorders: Neurobiological correlates, edited by Drake D. Duane, is a compilation of legitimate research. To be sure, it is academic in nature. Concrete therapies that come out of the read are few. The first read leaves you stimulated and better educated ... but knowing that you'll have to return to the material to really understand everything.

The chapters are as follows:

(1) DIx Genes, the Striatal Subventricular Zone, and the Development of Neocortical Interneurons by Stewart A. Anderson.

(2) Colorado Twin Study of Reading Disability by DeFries, Knopik, and Wadsworth

(3) Structural and Functional Neuroanatomy in Reading Disorder by Filipek, Pennington (author of Diagnosing Learning Disorders), Simon, et al.

(4) Klinefelter's Syndrome: A Genetic Model for Learning Disabilities in the Verbal and Frontal--Attentional Domains by Geschwind and Boone

(5) The Magnocellular/Parietal System and Visual Symptoms in Dyslexia by Maragaret Livingstone

(6) Moving Research from the Laboratory to Clinics and Classrooms by Tallal, Merzenich, Jenkins, and Miller

(7) Dyslexia: From Epidemiology to Neurobiology by Shaywitz and Shwaywitz

(8) Functional Neuroanatomy of Dyslexic Subtypes by Frank Wood and Lynn Flowers

(9) Linkages Between Attention Deficit Disorders and Reading Disability by Schulte, Conners, and Osborne

(10) Neurological Factors Underlying the Comorbidity of Attentional Dysfunction and Dyslexia by Kytja Voeller

(11) The Abilities of Those with Reading Disabilities: Focusing on the Talents of People with Dyslexia

Each chapter includes an up-front summary by the author/researcher, a concluding-remarks section by the author/researcher, and an easily understood "Editors Comments" passage written by Drake Duane who summarizes the chapter.

If (a) you've really been trying to sink your teeth into the problems of reading disability and ADD, (b) you've wondered what the connection between the two might be, and (c) you're not afraid to tackle analytical material to get to the bottom of it, this will be one of the best sources you discover. It's the latest research. You'll know you're not missing anything.