Getting Rid of Ritalin: How Neurofeedback Can Successfully Treat Attention Deficit Disorder Without Drugs (Paperback)

~ (Author), Eduardo Castro (Author) "Just like religion and politics, everybody has an opinion on Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), from the woman who cares for the plants in our offices..." (more)
Key Phrases: dysregulated brain, brain dysregulation, frequency brainwaves, United States, Barry Sterman, Environmental Protection Agency (more...)

Product Details

• Paperback: 285 pages
• Publisher: Hampton Roads Publishing Company; 1 edition (May 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1571742549
• ISBN-13: 978-1571742544
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6.8 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #335,895 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars readable and well informed, August 26, 2004

By	Kevin Turner "software enthusiast" (North America) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I picked this book up because I was seeking to learn more about neurofeedback, and now it is one of my favourite works on ADD and brain care. I appreciated the background given by the authors on how they arrived at their current position; their range of experience is reassuring.

Neurofeedback is only a fraction of this book. I enjoyed the introduction to "low-arousal hypothesis" in the chapter on what causes ADD. The authors address forms of ADD both with and without the hyperactivity component. The chapters on nutrition and toxins were thorough, although it's always a little disappointing to read those lists of "Things to Not Eat." I felt the chapter on television and video games was important as well -- documentation that that stuff _slows down your brain_.

My biggest complaint, if you can even call it that, was that I skipped over some parts I felt I already knew. But the book is clearly organized so that it's pretty easy to figure out which parts you do (or don't) need to read.

Overall, I think this book is very well-informed and very readable. They provide more references to back up their statements than many books I've read. I'll definately recommend it to anyone who expresses an interested in reading more about ADD, and it will stay on my list of neurofeedback resources.

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars For every concerned parent, February 23, 2003

By	Ali Hashemian "Ali Hashemian, Ph.D." (Walnut Creek, CA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Too often parents might suspect something is not quit right with their child's attention, focus, and impulse control without knowing why. And all too often the medical doctors are willing to diagnosis by prescription, lets try this medication if he improves then this is what he had. This is an excellent resource with a very comprehensive checklist to help parents understand all facts about their child's behaviors as well as an excellent reference for available options, from medication to toxicity testing to alternative and more effective treatment than medication. Before condemning your child to a life long regiment of taking medication at leats know the facts. Also an excellent book for any medical practitioner that is willing to actually read the endless research and case studies showing how non-medical treatment are actually proving more effective than medication without any of the negative side effects.

37 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Effective,Readable Advice for parents of ADD/ADHD kids, June 17, 2002

By	G. VONHILSHEIMER III (Maitland, FL USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Any professional who works with ADD and ADHD kids will
be happy to read GETTING RID OF RITALIN. Dr. Robert W. Hill not
only knows what he is typing about, but he crafts his words with
energy and directness. Bob is readable!

His thesis is that Ritalin and other addictive and dangerous drugs are not needed to help ADD children, even when the kids are
wildly hyperactive.

What IS needed is succinctly explained in simple, practical words:

EEG biofeedback (aka Neurofeedback); dietary management; avoidance of certain chemicals; allergy treatment
and other medical advise buttressed by Physician Castro's medical expertise; and behavioral modification. The book is supported by an extensive bibliography; a practitioner list is
given along with diets and other detailed information.

As a professional who wrote "HOW TO LIVE WITH YOUR SPECIAL CHILD" almost 40 years ago and who has worked with ADD/ADHD and other misbehaving and mislearning kids for 40 of my 68 years, I was delighted with this warm, practical book. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED...