The A.D.D. Book: New Understandings, New Approaches to Parenting Your Child [Paperback]

William Sears (Author), Lynda Thompson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 30, 1998

One of America's most trusted pediatricians outlines an effective, drug-free approach to treating children with Attention Deficit Disorder. Your child with A.D.D. can flourish-without drug therapy. That's the revolutionary and reassuring message that Dr. William Sears delivers in The A.D.D. Book. Dr. Sears, whose bestselling books, including The Baby Book and The Discipline Book, have established him as one of the country's most reliable authorities on parenting, joins forces with child psychologist Lynda Thompson, Ph.D., to provide all the information that you as a parent need to help your child with A.D.D. thrive. In The A.D.D. Book you'll learn what A.D.D. is and what it is not, how to tell whether your child has A.D.D., and how to increase your child's learning ability both at home and at school. Dr. Sears and Dr. Thompson outline effective behavior modification strategies that reach beyond the widely prescribed drug therapy to improve your child's cognitive abilities while reducing hyperactivity. Using real-life case studies and the results of the most recent scientific research, they offer guidelines for living with and helping your child with A.D.D., including: * Ways to improve your child's attention and motivation in the classroom * Tips for helping your child learn to handle frustration * Ways to increase parent-child communication and develop time-management techniques for the entire family * Advice on selecting the right professional help * How neurofeedback (using computers to increase attention skills) can help your child learn * How to know if your child needs medication and how to make the right decisions about using it Dr. Sears and Dr. Thompson take a positive approach to A.D.D. They believe that A.D.D. is a difference rather than a disorder, and they explain how you can make some of the behavioral and personality traits that are characteristic of A.D.D. work to your child's advantage. Their book is a clear, comforting, and uniquely comprehensive parents' guide to A.D.D.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

"Dr. Bill" Sears, author of The Baby Book, beloved pediatrician, and creator of "attachment" parenting, teams with Lynda Thompson, an expert on attention deficit disorder and a proponent of neurofeedback, to provide parents with a highly positive, helpful guide to understanding and assisting the ADD child. Sears and Thompson carefully describe the ADD child's particular cluster of neurological traits--some positive (creativity, spontaneity, hyperfocus) and some potentially negative (selective attention, distractibility, hyperactivity). They emphasize that all of these traits can, depending upon how they are perceived and shaped, work to a child's advantage or disadvantage.

The authors provide insight into and an analysis of accurately diagnosing the ADD child, managing problem areas, and helping the child cope at school and at home. A thorough discussion about the use of stimulant drugs (Dr. Bill calls them "focus pills") describes appropriate use and misuse, and stresses that the drugs should be used in combination with other, more holistic therapies. Thompson's expertise in neurofeedback is presented as an effective alternative therapy. At a time when many schools have lengthy "Ritalin lines" in front of the nurse's office every day, Sears and Thompson's book is a welcome relief for parents looking for a wide scope of alternatives. --Ericka Lutz --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

Attention deficit disorder--ADD--is best understood as a variation on normal patterns of behavior that is characterized by selective attention, distractibility, impulsivity, and often hyperactivity, all reflecting a child's inborn, neurologically based temperament. Sears and Thompson examine ADD behavior and treatments from a positive stance that emphasizes such qualities as creativity, spontaneity, tenacity, focus, and high energy, and that relies on neurofeedback, diet, and specific strategies for learning, organizing information, and studying as an alternative or supplement to medication. An estimated 20 percent of boys and 8 percent of girls have ADD. When the syndrome is not identified or treated, these children are increasingly at risk of academic difficulty, social conflict, tangles with the law, motor vehicle accidents, and divorce in their families. Sears and Thompson offer those dealing with ADD an effective choice for treatment in the newly acknowledged therapy of neurofeedback and a refreshingly positive, supportive way for such parents to contemplate their challenging children. Kathryn Carpenter --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Little, Brown and Company (March 30, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0316778737
• ISBN-13: 978-0316778732
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 1 x 9.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #383,158 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

William Sears, M.D., received his pediatric training at Harvard Medical School's Children's Hospital and Toronto's Hospital for Sick Children. He has practiced as a pediatrician for more than thirty years. Martha Sears is a registered nurse, childbirth educator, and breastfeeding consultant. The Searses are the parents of eight children. Drs. Robert and James Sears are both board-certified pediatricians at the Sears Family Pediatric Practice in San Clemente, California. All four authors live in southern California. More information about the Searses can be found at www.SearsParenting.com and www.AskDrSears.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hope and a New Therapy for A.D.D., January 30, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The A.D.D. Book: New Understandings, New Approaches to Parenting Your Child (Paperback)

This is the first book I have read to offer me hope that my child might be healed from his ADD symptoms. Rather than focus on the reasons for the syndrome, this book takes a "what do we do about it now" approach. I particularly found the chapter on Neurofeedback a godsend. With Neurofeedback, a brain scan is taken during the initial diagnosis. This scan reveals to the practitioner whether they are dealing with ADD or something more complex like ADD with depression or a predisposition to addictive behaviours. Then a program is designed for the child where they play computer games which are designed to correct their malfunctioning brain waves. These games are fun. Your child may make a fish go through a maze or play basketball; however these games are played utilizing brain waves only. Brains are literally retrained to stimulate those portions which have operated in a deficit previously. I call this therapy simple truth. Neurofeedback has also been called bloodless brain surgery because the positive changes are permanent. Many ADD children are very bright but their IQs suffer as well as their self-esteem when they are untreated. Neurofeedback seems to increase IQ once again. My son is very excited about his upcoming treatments in March. Firstly he gets to play cool computer games, he'll learn how to hyperfocus and his IQ will probably return to where it began. As he said to me recently,"Mom were you going to wait until I had Homer Simpson's IQ before you sent me for Neurofeedback?" All I could answer was "Darling I'm sorry, I didn't know it existed." Thankyou William Sears and Linda Thompson for writing this book. I would encourage those parents, teachers and physicians who want to change lives to buy this book. Neurofeedback has been available for years but it is relatively unheard of in Canada.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Neurotherapy works, October 29, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: The A.D.D. Book: New Understandings, New Approaches to Parenting Your Child (Paperback)

I didn't find this book until my son was a junior in high school. He was not a behavior problem and his IQ was above average but he just had trouble with listening and focusing. He was nearly failing all his classes at the time and was very upset because he truly wanted to do well. I reviewed the neurotherapy section of the book and decided to give it a try. He did the sessions over the summer and it made all the difference in school. He had good grades his senior year and now has a full academic scholarship in college. He is happy and proud of himself. This book helped me understand him better and gave me options. This book helped me help him. I highly recommend it.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Wonderful Resource, August 23, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The A.D.D. Book: New Understandings, New Approaches to Parenting Your Child (Paperback)

This is a fantastic book. I came to this book after a speech therapist recommended that my four year old daughter be tested for ADD. After reading magazine articles and visiting web sites I was thoroughly confused. All the signs of ADD described there could describe about 95% of the young children I know. I knew there must be more to it than that and this book provided me with that something more. Sears discusses a number of signs which helped me realize the truth about my child. Sears also provides a very positive view of ADD. While discussing the negatives, he gives you ways (many, many ways) to address them and also discusses the positives, the strengths that many children with ADD have. He suggests many ways to harness these strengths. This book is such a positive read. I am so glad I found it. I think any parent in my position will find it immensely helpful.