Sleep Better! [Paperback]

Vincent Mark Durand (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 31, 1997

When children have recurrent sleep problems, they and their families must deal with negative effects on behavior, mood, social interactions, physical stamina, step-by-step, "how to" instructions for helping children with disabilities get the rest they need. For problems ranging from bedtime tantrums to night waking, parents and caregivers will find a variety of widely tested and easy-to-implement techniques that have already helped hundreds of children with special needs - especially children with autism, Tourette syndrome, and cerebral palsy.

Written by a psychologist who was inspired by many sleepless nights with his own child, this book delivers proven techniques from the author's clinical and personal experience, making it a one-of-a-kind resource for families and professionals.

Editorial Reviews

Review

It is about time parents had some help with one of the most troublesome challenges of raising a special child. . . -- The Family Connection

Sleep Better! Provides a copious variety of pertinent and empirically validated interventions to help parents... --JASH 1999

About the Author

Dr. Durand received his doctoral degree in clinical psychology from the State University of New York at Stony Brook. He has contributed research in the area of self-injurious and disruptive behavior in people with severe disabilities, including autism. He has lectured nationally and internationally and has various journals, including the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, and the Journal of The Association for Persons with Severe Handicaps. Dr. Durand's best-selling book Severe Behavior Problems: A Functional Communication Training Approach (Guilford Press, 1990) outlines the treatments of problem behaviors using communication. He was honored in 1991 with an Excellence in Teaching Award from the State University of New York at Albany for his undergraduate and graduaate teaching efforts. Dr. Durand also has co-authored two textbooks with Dr. David Barlow on abnormal psychology. In addition to his other interests, Dr. Durand has spent the past decade working with families and conducting research on sleep problems in children.

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Paul H Brookes Pub Co; 1 edition (October 31, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1557663157
• ISBN-13: 978-1557663153
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #414,907 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

V. Mark Durand is known worldwide as an authority in the area of autism spectrum disorders. He is a professor of psychology at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg, where he was the founding Dean of Arts & Sciences and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs. Dr. Durand is a fellow of the American Psychological Association. He has received over $4 million in continuous federal funding since the beginning of his career to study the nature, assessment, and treatment of behavior problems in children with disabilities. Before moving to Florida he served in a variety of leadership positions at the University at Albany, including associate director for clinical training for the doctoral psychology program from 1987 to 1990, chair of the psychology department from 1995 to 1998, and interim dean of Arts and Sciences from 2001 to 2002. There he established the Center for Autism and Related Disabilities at the University at Albany, SUNY. He received his B.A., M.A., and Ph.D.--all in psychology--at the State University of New York-Stony Brook.
Dr. Durand was awarded the University Award for Excellence in Teaching at SUNY-Albany in 1991 and in 1989 was named Distinguished Reviewer of the Year for the Journal of the Association for Persons with Severe Handicaps. Dr. Durand is currently a member of the Professional Advisory Board for the Autism Society of America and is on the board of directors of the International Association of Positive Behavioral Support. He serves on a number of editorial boards, reviews for dozens of journals, and has over 100 publications on functional communication, educational programming, and behavior therapy. His books include Severe Behavior Problems: A Functional Communication Training Approach, Sleep Better! A Guide to Improving Sleep for Children with Special Needs, and most recently, When Children Don't Sleep Well: Interventions for Pediatric Sleep Disorders.
Dr. Durand developed a unique treatment for severe behavior problems that is currently mandated by states across the country and is used worldwide. He also developed an assessment tool that is used internationally and has been translated into more than 15 languages. In 1993 he was the keynote speaker for the Australian National Conference on Behaviour Modification; he has also lectured throughout Norway. He has been consulted by the departments of education in numerous states and by the U.S. Departments of Justice and Education. His current research program includes the study of prevention models and treatments for such serious problems as self-injurious behavior.
In his leisure time, he enjoys long-distance running and has just completed his third marathon.



Dr. Durand's Blog: http://www.cengage.com/cengage/instructor.do?disciplinenumber=24&product_isbn=9780495597841&courseid=&codeid=&subTab=About_the_Author&mainTab=&mailFlag=true&topicName=Search%20Results&filter=Book&type=keyword_all&keyword_all=HOWELL&pageno=1

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

31 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Will be indispensible to exhausted parents, September 27, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Sleep Better! (Paperback)

As far as I know, Durand's book is completely unique - there are no other books specifically on coping with sleep problems in children with special needs, even though they are unusually prone to developing sleep problems (which are also not always susceptible to the methods designed for "normal" children).

Durand's advice is built on a solid foundation of research, but written clearly and without jargon. He's also not out to "sell" a particular method or program as the cure-all: he describes a number of different methods, giving the pros and cons of each, so that parents can make an informed decision about what is likely to work with their child.

Incidentally, the information in the book might also help an adult (disabled or non-disabled) sort out any sleep problems of theirs as a free bonus.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Such a life and marriage saver!, January 9, 2007

By 

P. Golden "autism mom" (nw ohio) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Sleep Better! (Paperback)

we had been struggling for a couple of years with our daughter's sleep issues and read and implemented some other books and suggestions early on. this book seems to have finally lead us to the solutions. it caught our interest because of the 'special needs' in the title. we were able to pick two of the recommendations and alternate them, depending on the situation. unfortunately, her issues are re-occuring, but we now know we can work through them and that is a tremendous weight off of our shoulders! we have shared the information about this book with our autism doc, too, hoping he passes the title along to other struggling parents!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Why didnt I hear about this sooner?, November 27, 2009

By 

K. Rhattigan - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Sleep Better! (Paperback)

With a special needs child there really are no handbooks etc given to us parents as each child is different, however this book should be mandatory reading for all parents regardless of needs. It is brilliant-logical when you read it but when a psychologist has had personal experience of sleep problems with his own child you do tend to listen more to what is being said!
Definitely well worth investing in a copy and it is a good read as well.