ADHD- Living Without Brakes (Hardcover)

by Martin L., M.D. Kutscher (Author), Douglas, M.D. Puder (Illustrator)
Key Phrases: collaborative problem solving, predominantly inattentive type, disability outlook, American Psychiatric Association, Cooperative Group, Russell Barkley (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
"Martin Kutscher is a paediatric neurologist and understands the nature of ADHD as well as the perspectives and experiences of parents, teachers and children. He explains ADHD in a clear and engaging style that will ensure that his book will be read, appreciated and the practical strategies implemented at home and at school. I strongly recommend Living Without Brakes as the book of first choice for parents of a child with ADHD."--Tony Attwood, author of The Complete Guide to Asperger's Syndrome and Asperger's Syndrome: A Guide for Parents and Professionals"Dr. Kutscher has brilliantly accomplished exactly what he has set out to do. This book is wonderfully concise yet all-inclusive while remaining an easy read for parents and educators alike. The parenting and educational strategies are a great combination of proven methods that are realistic and practical to implement. Most of all, this book will help parents and anyone else who works with these children thoroughly understand how they think and why they function the way they do."--Heidi Bernhardt, National Director of the Centre for ADHD/ADD Advocacy Canada (CADDAC)"Even if parents, teachers, and therapists read no further than the table of contents, they will gain a hugely valuable set of guidelines for helping children with ADHD. Of course, they'd best continue reading, because Dr. Kutscher fleshes out each guideline in the realistic-but-optimistic style his readers have come to expect... I cannot imagine a more clear, concise, and empathetic guide. Reading this book is like sitting down for a leisurely chat with an extremely compassionate, informed, and down-to-earth physician."--Gina Pera, author of Is It You, Me, or Adult ADD?

Product Description
This concise and highly accessible book contains everything that parents and busy professionals need to know about ADHD.

The author describes the spectrum of ADHD, the co-occurring symptoms, and common difficulties that parents face. The rest of the book focuses on solutions, based around four rules. Rule number one is keeping it positive: punishments can change behavior, but only positive approaches can improve attitude. Rule number two is keeping it calm: it's difficult thinking clearly enough to solve problems logically if you are feeling overwhelmed. Rule number three is keeping it organized: this rule relates particularly to the child's school life. Rule number four is to keep doing rules one to three..Finally, Dr. Kutscher discusses the role of medication for treating ADHD. The concluding chapter summarizes the information covered and can also be read as a complete, freestanding text. Useful checklists and further reading recommendations are also included.

Realistic and optimistic, this book is the ideal source of information and advice for parents and professionals who are trying to keep up with children who are living without brakes.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 189 pages
• Publisher: Jessica Kingsley Publishers; 1 edition (March 15, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1843108739
• ISBN-13: 978-1843108733
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #249,255 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A very good, brief-yet-fact-filled place for parents to begin, July 5, 2008

By	Mrs. H (burbs of Atlanta, GA) - See all my reviews

I recommend this book to any parent who has recently entered the ADHD world with one of their children. My 9yr old daughter was diagnosed with ADHD inattentive type this spring. ADHD Living Without Brakes is the first book I read after sitting through the parent feedback session with the child psychologist who performed my daughter's neuro/psych test.

I found this book to be a wonderful diving board into deeper waters of ADHD reading, if you will. In 130 pages, Dr. Kutscher clearly, consisely and effectively tells us about ADHD in terms of brain physiology, emotional effects on the ADHD'er, strains on family life and a memorable explanation of what it must feel like to have ADHD. For me, that last bit was unexpected and cherished. So many times while reading this book did I stumble across an "ah-ha!" moment of recognition.

After reading ADHD Living Without Brakes I understood my daughter exponentially better than I had before; and I felt confident in choosing further reading on ADHD that would have seemed overwhelming at first (you know, the three inch thick books on ADHD that include a maddening amount of information of which you'll only need a small percentage).

Dr. K's descriptions of ADHD's effects on the brain's executive functions are invaluable. Understanding executive function opens the door to sympathy and help for the ADHD child. His explanation of co-morbid dysfunctions are eye-opening.

He gives parents simple steps we can take to make our child's life function smoother and for us all to feel more sane at home. Using his techniques has worked well for us. His suggestions are basic, loving and realistic, rather than a complex system that needs special training and memorization.

I only have two criticisms of Dr. Kutscher's book:
-- Be warned that his language can be a little harsh toward parents in a couple of places. I'm guessing that his experience has been with many families who have lived in a crisis mode for a long time. For those cases, the blunt language is very appropriate and it's good to get it out there to keep our perspective clear. I will grant that Dr. Kutscher also gives parents grace in the book as well. Thank you for that! There's a balance -- just don't be shocked when you come across a couple of zingers aimed at parents.

-- In my opinion the summary should have been handled much differently. The book is 166 pages long; 35 of that is the summary! The summary literally restates ALL the pertinant info from every section of the book. That's great and everything; but it doesn't do it in bullet form, instead it's another narrative, most pages containing huge verbatim chunks from the front of the book. Good grief that was laborious to read. Yes, it's very important to read all the information more than once; but I didn't expect such a long winded summary. Brief notes with page numbers for cross-referencing would have been fine.

All that being said, I find this book my favorite so far, in terms of telling parents why ADHD looks, acts, sounds and feels the way it does. This book helped our family tremendously. I keep it next to me at my desk.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Read for Parents and Teachers!, May 1, 2009

By	Marie (New York) - See all my reviews

I am a parent of a child with TS and ADHD and I highly recommend this book. It has been an excellent tool for home and school. Explains ADHD and gives wonderful strategies for parents and teachers in an easy to understand, all-inclusive book. This book, as well as Dr. Kutscher's other books has helped me understand and advocate for my son. It is useful to read before scheduled IEP and Sec. 504 school meetings in getting accommodations for the ADHD child.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Superb book!! Should be at the TOP of every ADHD/ADD reading list!!, April 6, 2009

By	drthomas (South Florida) - See all my reviews

Many, if not most, people do not truly understand ADD, what it is, how it feels, what causes it, and what it causes. This superb book is the answer.

The reviewer who complained that the summary was 35 pages long and restated everything pertinent in the book clearly doesn't have ADD. Approximately 80% of the risk of having ADD is genetic, which means that a substantial number of parents reading the book also have ADD. Dr. Kutscher appreciated the difficulty most people with ADD have in finishing a book or remembering what they read and no doubt wrote the summary for them. As a parent with ADD, the summary is a gift.

I highly recommend this book not only to parents, but also to anyone with ADD and to anyone who wants a true understanding of ADD.