Rating: 
Summary: As an ADULT with ADD....
Review: .... While it IS geared toward parents dealing with children with ADHD, this is the most scientific, complete and up-to-date book on Attention Deficit I have found. No, I have not finished reading the book yet, but I highly recomend this book for its down-to-earth, nuts-and-bolts explainations of ADHD. Though scientific, information is presented in a very easy to understand format and is quick, easy reading, especially if you have a vested interest in the subject. This will also help dispell some of the myths surrounding ADD/ADHD by explaining what is really happening in the ADHD brain.Just because you may be an ADULT with ADD, and childless (as I), you do owe it to yourself to explore your disorder through the educated eyes of Dr. Barkley.
Rating: 
Summary: Taking Charge of ADHD
Review: A must have for Doctors Teachers and Parents. Explains why your child has ADHD (Medically) and behavior modifications to try I highly recommend this book.
Rating:
Summary: The first book you should read on the subject of ADHD or ADD
Review: A terrific book! Barkley approaches the subject from every angle. The reader gets a clear understanding of the disorder as the myths about it and it's treatments are looked at under a scientific light. Very wholistic and empowering. You as the parent make the choices for your child's treatment and the first choice should be reading this book.
Rating:
Summary: is there a conspiracy
Review: after reading the reviews, especially those that sided on the negative, I noticed many individuals familair with EEG biofeedback, chose not to endorse this book, in favor of treatment that doesn't use psychostimulants. I am not too familair with EEG biofeedback, but I have found some children and adults whose lives have changed tremendously from using psychostimulants. Kids with ADHD have obvious difficulty controlling their behavior, and are often subject to scorn and ridicule from parents and teachers. They often have difficulty with self esteem and comorbid mood disorders such as depression because they just "can't get it right". I've been witness to children with moderate to severe ADHD and have seen psychostimulants change their lives. You can't deny it effects although we can all be outraged at the overmedication of some children that gains the public's eye. When I first started working with children I believed psychostimulants had to be avoided, but after years of proof the evidence is overwhelming. The combination of psychostimulants and psychotherapy/education is a powerful form of treatment. In my opinion many children begin to learn with fewer distractions, their social skills and peer relations improve and most importantly they gain confidence in themselves and their abilities. My suggestion is to read books and educate yourself. Unfortunately, Barkley is a tough read. His books are better suited for researchers and neuroscientists, but when distilled, they provide some help in understanding this disorder.
Rating:
Summary: A Complete and Solid Parents' Guide
Review: As a fully licensed clinical psychologist and the author of Parenting Kids with ADD/ADHD: Real Tools for Real Life I feel uniquely qualified to say that Dr. Barkley's book is the MOST complete ADHD-related parenting book in print today. It offers a complete review of the scientific literature related to ADHD, and describes scientifically supported treatments. This volume could be improved by being more user friendly, and somewhat less dense (goals I attempted to meet in my own volume mentioned above).
-Dr. Al Winebarger
Rating:
Summary: Best Book on ADD/ADHD I have ever found !!!
Review: As a parent of an ADHD teenager, I have found "Taking Charge of ADHD" to be the best ADHD resource ever. When I first read this book when my daughter was diagnosed ADHD over 8 years ago I found it to be not only informative as to the technical aspects of what ADD and ADHD are, but also very helpful, motivational and supportive in the ways that it describes how a parent CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE and help their child to become the best that they can be. Over the years, as my daughter has grown, ADHD has played a major role in each of her "phases of development". Each time I needed either additional support or more information on a new issue, I always turn to "Taking Charge of ADHD" first, and I have never been disappointed. This book has always been there for me both as an authoritative resource and as supportive reassurance. I recommend it to anyone who truly wants to learn about ADD/ADHD and how to understand and work with these very special children.
Rating:
Summary: At last someone who's done the research
Review: As the parent of a 7 yr old with SEVERE ADHD-(hyperactivity/impulsivity), we really needed this blunt and often extreme view point. We have spent the last 4 years trying every alternative to avoid meds. We have tried the diet change, school change, rigid structure adaptation, behavior modification, strict discipline enforcement, counseling, and even play therapy. You name it, we�ve tried it. I am not an advocate of drug therapy by any means. I know of many kids taking drugs for ADD/ADHD who DON'T need it. But when you see heartache in the eyes of a child who doesn't understand why no one wants to play with him, something has to give. Sometimes there are no other alternatives that work for a child and his family. While I agree that Dr. Barkley does tend to be a stimulant med advocate, he also offers information in a realistic manner. Lets face it, if you have read or are reading this book, you're probably struggling with where to go next. Just remember that while not all kids need meds to function and perform, there are those kids who really do need them. This book does offer other alternatives to try as well as things to do to accompany medication treatments.
Rating:
Summary: Extreme kids...extreme choices
Review: As the parent of a 7 yr old with SEVERE ADHD-(hyperactivity/impulsivity), we really needed this blunt and often extreme view point. We have spent the last 4 years trying every alternative to avoid meds. We have tried the diet change, school change, rigid structure adaptation, behavior modification, strict discipline enforcement, counseling, and even play therapy. You name it, we've tried it. I am not an advocate of drug therapy by any means. I know of many kids taking drugs for ADD/ADHD who DON'T need it. But when you see heartache in the eyes of a child who doesn't understand why no one wants to play with him, something has to give. Sometimes there are no other alternatives that work for a child and his family. While I agree that Dr. Barkley does tend to be a stimulant med advocate, he also offers information in a realistic manner. Lets face it, if you have read or are reading this book, you're probably struggling with where to go next. Just remember that while not all kids need meds to function and perform, there are those kids who really do need them. This book does offer other alternatives to try as well as things to do to accompany medication treatments.
Rating:
Summary: A "textbook" on coping with ADHD at home
Review: As the parent of an ADHD child, I have read many books on this disorder. This one contains many practical tips that you can use, but also sets down some large guiding principals. I like the fact that Dr. Barkley challenges us to become "executive parents", ones that take charge of our child’s professional and educational care, something I feel we all need to keep in mind. He arms us with facts to dispel the myths that abound about ADHD, integrating the latest scientific findings with anecdotes from his years of working with ADHD patients and their families. There are several chapters that offer programs that you can implement starting today to help your child control and replace undesirable behavior with appropriate, positive behavior. There are two chapters that give you answers to questions like, “I know he(she) has ADHD, but how can I get him (her) to (finish his homework, do the dishes, pick up dirty clothes, get up in the morning, stop pushing other kids, pu t on socks in less than 22 minutes)... just fill in the blank. His suggestions take commitment and consistent effort from us as parents before we see results from our child, but they do work. Some steps may bring better results than others in your child. But if you gain some sanity and peace in your house and family again, isn’t it worth the effort? I think the biggest challenge will be for those parents with ADHD themselves to make a consistent effort, an issue that Dr. Barkley does not address. He does, however, r emind us to keep it all in perspective. He suggests that we focus on what is really important in our lives each day. Is getting to soccer practice on time more important than arriving there prepared and leaving home in a peaceful and loving attitude? H e challenges us to step outside our need to get our child to behave in certain ways, and to first understand the challenges that s/he faces every minute of the day. Then we can work together to build on the child’s strengths and differences in a positive way. There were times when I felt overwhelmed by the programs I needed to implement just to help my child get through the week successfully. And I do wish that he would incorporate a most positive "slant" on the ADHD traits into his books to give us mor e hope (but I just pull out one of Thom Hartmann's books when I need that). Dr. Barkley's books are ones that you need to keep on your shelf if you have a child with ADHD so that you can refer to a new suggestion when a "tried and true" solution is no lon ger effective. This is one I recommend to all the parents I know with ADHD children under the age of 12.
Rating:
Summary: A New Way of Looking at ADHD...
Review: As the wife of a husband with ADHD and mother of a son with ADHD, I have struggled for years like many other reviewers to do what is right for "my boys". I think the key point that all books on ADHD need to make is that each person with ADHD is an individual with unique talents and gifts, and we need to view these in a positive light. Anyone who has struggled with this needs to read a book called GIFTED by Kirk Martin. It's actually a novel about a young man with ADD who comes to understand that the "disorder" parents and teachers had considered negative all his life actually turns out to be a gift. I think you can read a summary at kirkmartinbooks.com, it presents an entirely new way to view the ones you love.
|
