Rating: 
Summary: A good start
Review: This book brought a lot of answers to a set of parents who were confused on what exactly Sensory Integration Dysfunction was. The only thing I would have added was more advice on how to cope as parents.
Rating: 
Summary: Shallow and Insensitive
Review: I have a son, almost age four, whom I suspect might have SID. I have been reading "the Out-of-Sync Child" by Kranowitz, and I know this is supposed to be an important book helping to understand the disorder as a layperson.
However, I have very mixed feelings about it. First of all, I find the title and the front cover to be unkind and judgemental (almost the title and picture from a scary movie!) Maybe this part is not the authors fault, the marketing team may have had their say in this matter. But in case you are the parent of a SID child and consider buying this book, please read the following quote first, p. 24(The chapter on Who has SID): "Think about people who are graceful and popular, like ballerinas, athletes, charismatic politicians, and delightful children. These people may be blessed with exceptionally efficient sensory integration.
Now think about people you know who have problems functioning in certain aspects of their lives. They may be clumsy, have few friends, or show neither common sense nor self-control. They may have SI Dysfunction." Personally I find this attitude to be not just shallow but even offensive. Life should not be a popularity-contest - especially not if you are a special needs child. After reading the statement above I would not let Kranowitz meet my son if she came knocking on my door!
Rating:
Summary: No scientific basis
Review: Although parts of this book were, at times, helpful I found that there were contradictions (ie/ too hyper vs not hyper enough = SID, kids who didn't like to swing or who really liked to swing were both considered to have SID). People should be cautioned that there is NO scientific basis for brushing, joint compressions, swinging etc in terms of helping children with these reported issues. Children often get multiple therapies concurrently so to say this is the magic one would be presumptuous to say the least. It is concerning when all of the problems a child has is simplified into a diagnosis that only OTs seem to give out. We tried it with our child and it did not make any difference at all.
Rating: 
Summary: Outstanding resource
Review: This book provides valuable information on a little known, often misunderstood disorder that can cause significant difficulties in a child's life. I strongly recommend it to parents who know or suspect that their child has SI disorder, either alone or in combination with another mental disorder. --Sheryl Gurrentz, author of "If Your Child is Bipolar"
Rating:
Summary: Got an out of sync kid at home? This one is for you!
Review: I am not trying to give every child a diagnosis - that is not the goal of this review but for children who don't seem quite right with their environment and are having trouble in school this book is worth a read. For children WITH a diagnosis in place this book with provide practical examples, detail descriptions and ready to go advice for addressing complex issues thru play and day to day living. It is a good read!
Rating:
Summary: Ohhhh, answers!!!
Review: The "Thank God!!!" review by Jacalyn gave me chills. Our daughter is now 4 1/2 and we finally know she has SID. It took years to find out but we were lucky. We knew something wasn't right so she has been receiving speech and occupational therapy since her third birthday. Jacalyn pinpointed exactly how I feel about my daughter (not to mention the body scrubbing and joint pulling). The book describes WHY she has so many tantrums, WHY she falls apart, WHY she can't write or eat w/a fork. But most importantly the book explains HOW to help and manage a pieceful life with a child who is so deparate to feel comfortable in their own skin. Jacalyn warmed my heart - my husband and I have worried so much about our daughter's future - yet I have seen that my daugher is smart. She has an amazing memory and teaches herself things 4 year olds don't know such as how to tell time while she struggles to do simple things like putting on socks and shoes or drawing a straight line. I'm glad to hear that after all the "special needs" advise these children can become successful students. This book explained exactly how to "assist" your child to reach her full potential. Five months after reading it and following this book, five months of gymnastics, swinging, spinning, jumping, eating certian foods, walking backwards, sqweezing glue bottles, playing catch, etc... my daughter has calmed down a lot and has stopped drooling, having accidents, has better pronunciation, more muscle tone, better balance and is happier!!! We're not done, but we also no longer feel hopeless. It's a must read for all teachers/schools (given such a high percentage of kids have it) and parents with kids who are struggling with SID. Actually it is a good read for all parents so they can understand how their kids develop and how much of our personalities are controlled by our nervous system. Thank God, Carol and Larry!!!
Rating:
Summary: THANK GOD!!
Review: After four and 1/2 years of constant screaming, horrific, miserable hell for our entire family, God finally took notice of our tears, fears, and prayers and sent to us a therapist that knew what was so terribly wrong with our son. With the SI Dysfunction diagnosis and the therapuetic brushing/joint compression techniques we were taught to use, we were given back a child that went from, "He will never be normal, or be able to attend a regular school, you have to accept that", to a gifted child that recently scored so highly on his SAT's that he was recruited by Duke University this year. A far cry from the future we saw ahead for our son...stuck away somewhere in a mental facility in a straight jacket. Maybe your luckier than we were and your child doesn't fall into the same severity ours did. But without this information, our son was doomed. You take that anyway you want to. But if you really love your child, have an open mind and give it a REAL chance!..Learn the techniques and DO THEM faithfully!! What have you got to lose but your child's future??
Rating:
Summary: This book was a God-send!
Review: This book opened my eyes to exactly what was "wrong" with my bright but "out-of-sync" child. He read like the checklist for one of the dysfunctions. This book not only explains what DSI is, it helps you identify it and gives you practical advice on how to cope and where to get help. Best of all--it confirms that there is hope for your child to function "normally" with just a little bit of help. Thanks to this book, my son is getting the help he needs and improving at an astounding rate. I highly recommend it if you suspect ADHD or something more serious in your child. DSI is often misdiagnosed by parents, teachers and pediatricians as ADHD and this book can give you a place to start.
Rating:
Summary: Scam
Review: This book may be helpful to some parents but I found it to be very contradicting. Why do pediatric nuerologists and some pshyciatrists not buy into the theory of sensory integration dysfunction. I took my son to occupational therapy and it was the worst thing I've ever done (and the place we took him was supposed to be the "very best" in the field). Reading this book made me feel as though it was not ok for my child to have any differences. I truly believe it's just an excuse to use children as guinea pigs and give parents a placebo effect of therapy.
Rating:
Summary: Explained it all
Review: When our 6-year-old daughter was diagnosed with sensory integration dysfunction by her school and the local children's hospital, we had a hard time understanding what it meant. I believe the doctors did their best to explain everything, but we had too many questions and developed more every day. I checked out several related books from the library -- this is the one we bought. I've written notes in the margains and refer to it often as new SI-related behaviors pop up. If you're confused, have questions or don't know what to ask your child's doctor, invest some time in this book. You won't be disappointed, and you'll have a strong starting point to begin helping your child get on track.
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