The Adhd-Autism Connection : A Step Toward More Accurate Diagnoses and Effective Treatments

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Summary: Finally--Real Answers for Parents of Children with ADHD
Review: This book is a MUST BUY for mothers with children diagnosed with ADHD. Diane Kennedy's story of her journey in search of REAL ANSWERS to help her sons is moving and inspirational. It leaves one to wonder why parents of children with ADHD must seek the answers on their own rather than being able to rely upon the professionals for assistance. Ms Kennedy does an excellent job of presenting current research from the fields ADHD and autism as she explores the similarities between Asperger's syndrome and extreme ADHD. In doing so, she offers parents hope that there are, indeed, answers to their children's behaviors--but many of the answers are to be found in autism rather than ADHD. She also offers an several treatment options in addition to a comprehensive overview of the various drugs used to treat ADHD patients. This book is clear and concise, personal and factual. But most importantly, it offers real answers and real hope for parents of children with ADHD.

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Summary: Holistic Approach to ADHD Gives Insight
Review: This book is a must read for anyone (Parents, Educators, Professionals, Individuals) seeking to better understand themselves or those around them who suffer from charactistics associated with ADHD/Autism. The ADHD Autism Connection gives ground-breaking insight into the most significant disorders of our time. Diane Kennedy steps back to look at two different labels that fail to encompass the whole. Like ships passing in the night, the medical communities of ADHD and Autism have failed to see themselves in one another. Finally individuals, parents and educators can see the whole picture. The Author's personal experience as a mother of three children with ADHD/Autistic tendancies provides encouragement and hope as well as the insight only a mother possesses. Chapter 3 focuses on the similarities between autism and ADHD highlighting the obvious connection which serves as the breeding ground for ineffective treatment and misdiagnosis in many children. Chapter 8 has some thoughtful information contributed by Travis Nay about the individual uniqueness of our brains. I have personally attended his seminar and highly recommend it. The experience transformed my parenting! His web sight is listed in the resource section of the book. I would encourage everyone seeking understanding on this topic to read The ADHD Autism Connection. Diane Kennedy's book will surely prove to be a pivotal turning point in the way we view ADHD.

Rating:
Summary: Very thoughtful book!
Review: This book provides a very persuasive case of the links and similarities between ADHD and autistic spectrum disorders. While it has been known for a long time that people on the spectrum often have attentional problems, this book explores this phenomenon more extensively. Most noteworthy is the conclusion that a diagnosis of ADHD often gets in the way of a diagnosis of autism. This leads to an incomplete understanding of symptoms of autism, which are often misinterpreted, for example, as oppositional defiance. Further, many opportunities to treat autism are missed. Great job!

Rating:
Summary: Very thoughtful book!
Review: This book provides a very persuasive case of the links and similarities between ADHD and autistic spectrum disorders. While it has been known for a long time that people on the spectrum often have attentional problems, this book explores this phenomenon more extensively. Most noteworthy is the conclusion that a diagnosis of ADHD often gets in the way of a diagnosis of autism. This leads to an incomplete understanding of symptoms of autism, which are often misinterpreted, for example, as oppositional defiance. Further, many opportunities to treat autism are missed. Great job!

Rating:
Summary: More that ADHD
Review: This book took us out of the dark and into the light and we could finally put into words exactly what our child couldn't. He is now almost 11 and we have struggled like every parent out there that knew their child was more than ADHD. This is my second time around with a boy diagnosed ADHD and I kept trying to tell the doctors that there was more to it than that. Armed with this book and the ideas and references provided, we started showing doctors that these children are different and they do exist and there was ways to help them. Last week he was nominated to advanced placement classes. It took a long time to bring him "out" and with the proper care he is getting now it looks like he will be with us for good.

Rating:
Summary: More that ADHD
Review: This book took us out of the dark and into the light and we could finally put into words exactly what our child couldn't. He is now almost 11 and we have struggled like every parent out there that knew their child was more than ADHD. This is my second time around with a boy diagnosed ADHD and I kept trying to tell the doctors that there was more to it than that. Armed with this book and the ideas and references provided, we started showing doctors that these children are different and they do exist and there was ways to help them. Last week he was nominated to advanced placement classes. It took a long time to bring him "out" and with the proper care he is getting now it looks like he will be with us for good.

Rating:
Summary: ADHD advice from Evangelical Christian publisher?
Review: What a disappointment. After reading the great reviews on Amazon, I was very much looking forward to this book.

After reading one chapter though, I went to the Internet to do a little research -- I was sure this book must be self-published, as it reads more like a term paper than like a professionally edited book about autism and ADHD. In fact, what I found is that publisher WaterBrook Press is "an autonomous evangelical religious publishing division of Random House." OK, that would explain the bible quotes. I would've preferred to know that before I bought this book. But to be fair, the religious overtones are fairly innocuous. No, my real problem is that I don't believe the publisher/editor has any deep understanding of the subject, and therefore didn't hold this book to the same standards that Future Horizons or JKP would have.

I DO believe that the connection between ADD/ADHD and Autism/Asperger needs to be delved into. Unfortunately, this book doesn't do a very good job of it. While the author points out the many things that ADHD and autism/Asperger Syndrome have in common, she virtually ignores their differences (e.g. an aspie's intense resistence to change, or their preoccupation with specific subjects -- very defining elements of the disorder). If this was the only book you read about autism and asperger, you'd come out with a very poor understanding of those diagnoses.