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Understanding ADHD: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
The definitive guide to Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder - fully revised and updated for a new generation of parents.
The bestselling author of Toddler Taming and Beyond Toddlerdom, Dr Christopher Green, with Dr Kit Chee, demystifies ADHD, the elusive and distressing condition that affects learning and behaviour. Understanding ADHD gives a clear overview of ADHD - the causes, the behaviours and the treatments - and dispels the myths. It is full of well-tried, practical and proven strategies to help with common ADHD problems such as inattention, impulsiveness and underachievement. Drawing on the latest research, the new edition includes:
How to identify ADHD in your child
ADHD in the under-fives
How to encourage better behaviours at school and home
Medication and alternative therapies: the pros and cons
How to deal with the stress ADHD causes for parents and siblings
How to help with reading, writing and language
Advice for adults with ADHD
Answers to common questions
Fully updated list of resources
Understanding ADHD shows parents how to work with teachers and health professionals to give their child the best possible chance of entering adulthood with self-confidence, life skills and strong family relationships.
The bestselling author of Toddler Taming and Beyond Toddlerdom, Dr Christopher Green, with Dr Kit Chee, demystifies ADHD, the elusive and distressing condition that affects learning and behaviour. Understanding ADHD gives a clear overview of ADHD - the causes, the behaviours and the treatments - and dispels the myths. It is full of well-tried, practical and proven strategies to help with common ADHD problems such as inattention, impulsiveness and underachievement. Drawing on the latest research, the new edition includes:
How to identify ADHD in your child
ADHD in the under-fives
How to encourage better behaviours at school and home
Medication and alternative therapies: the pros and cons
How to deal with the stress ADHD causes for parents and siblings
How to help with reading, writing and language
Advice for adults with ADHD
Answers to common questions
Fully updated list of resources
Understanding ADHD shows parents how to work with teachers and health professionals to give their child the best possible chance of entering adulthood with self-confidence, life skills and strong family relationships.
336 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 2, 1994
36 people are currently reading
146 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
June 24, 2022
This book was a good overview of many of the ways that ADHD presents in children. It would be useful for someone who is exploring this condition from scratch.
It is 25 years old now though and some of the language and conclusions seem a bit dated. Now that there is so much information available online, and many theories that are being debunked each decade, this book alone would be inadequate. My main concern was that it was highly biased towards using medication to deal with the condition, which meant it dismissed many of the other treatments available. It was a real contrast to Scattered Minds by Gabor Mate, which explores the condition in adults too, and dismisses medication in favour of relational development and therapy. Still, as a complex condition that is continually being researched and trialled, all material is useful to build up a bigger picture.
It is 25 years old now though and some of the language and conclusions seem a bit dated. Now that there is so much information available online, and many theories that are being debunked each decade, this book alone would be inadequate. My main concern was that it was highly biased towards using medication to deal with the condition, which meant it dismissed many of the other treatments available. It was a real contrast to Scattered Minds by Gabor Mate, which explores the condition in adults too, and dismisses medication in favour of relational development and therapy. Still, as a complex condition that is continually being researched and trialled, all material is useful to build up a bigger picture.
July 16, 2011
I can't praise this book highly enough. In a week when I was told that my son is going to be assessed for ADHD, got a phone call at work asking me to come into his school for an urgent meeting about his unacceptable behaviour (jeez he's made an impact in that school in the 3 months he's been there! I quote "we don't have children like this in our school", well you do now!) and got the news that my daughter's friend is not allowed to attend her birthday party because she's not allowed near my son this book has been a lifesaver.
Every teacher and parent of an impulsive, frustrated kid with crap social skills, low self esteem, the concentration levels of a goldfish and a habit of fidgeting constantly should read this book. It described my son and then gave me some solid ideas for coping with him but above all it gave me the chance to understand what he is going through. It's nice to know that things I've been saying for years about my son actually being a lovely, sensitive and affectionate lad and other kids winding him up to get a nice explosive reaction is commonplace with ADHD kids, well actually it sucks but at least I have some backup to my protestations and it's not just me in denial.
Actually everyone should read this book and not just assume that a whirlwind, seemingly aggressive kid is down to bad parenting.
Every teacher and parent of an impulsive, frustrated kid with crap social skills, low self esteem, the concentration levels of a goldfish and a habit of fidgeting constantly should read this book. It described my son and then gave me some solid ideas for coping with him but above all it gave me the chance to understand what he is going through. It's nice to know that things I've been saying for years about my son actually being a lovely, sensitive and affectionate lad and other kids winding him up to get a nice explosive reaction is commonplace with ADHD kids, well actually it sucks but at least I have some backup to my protestations and it's not just me in denial.
Actually everyone should read this book and not just assume that a whirlwind, seemingly aggressive kid is down to bad parenting.
July 28, 2011
I'm probably biased as I am totally and utterly in awe of Dr Christopher green. He is possibly the nicest man I have ever had the pleasure to meet, but putting bias aside, this book is one of the best I have read. Written in such a way that you can either read it from cover to cover or just dip into it when you need some advice, this book is the one I recommend all parents to read first
February 22, 2020
Okay. Dated in places, but a nice clear format and some helpful practical tips. Still worth a read.
August 18, 2024
out of date but a good read
Just finished this book as my son has ADHD and I wanted to learn more. I’d love a newer more up to date version.
Just finished this book as my son has ADHD and I wanted to learn more. I’d love a newer more up to date version.
November 27, 2024
I read this book as I found it in my family home and because I was diagnosed with ADHD at the end of 2023. I find it really interesting to think that my parents would have understood me a lot better had they read this book. One of the most frustrating and disappointing things that I read in this book was “ADHD is mostly a ‘boy’ problem” and I felt this was a missed opportunity to explore this rather that giving the impression many woman wouldn’t have ADHD.
That aside, I did find it very interesting to read about medication for ADHD. Before reading this I was very against the idea because I was concerned about the risks and side affects, however, this book did explore well from a research point of view why medication was effective for ADHD individuals.
This book is old and outdated, however, I did learn a lot from it and found it interesting to see how ADHD was written about 2 decades ago.
That aside, I did find it very interesting to read about medication for ADHD. Before reading this I was very against the idea because I was concerned about the risks and side affects, however, this book did explore well from a research point of view why medication was effective for ADHD individuals.
This book is old and outdated, however, I did learn a lot from it and found it interesting to see how ADHD was written about 2 decades ago.
September 30, 2018
An informative and practical guide for anyone diagnosed with ADHD, or parents of ADHD children.
November 20, 2019
Nothing much I didn’t know before and now somewhat dated.
March 8, 2023
Very useful and interesting. Not sure how up to date it is now, but I found it a good guide to refer to in my quest for more knowledge on this disorder.
August 15, 2022
Co do tego – można by tak nazwać- poradnika , mam ogromny sentyment. Jest to bowiem książka mojej Mamy która znacząco pomogła jej w trudach wychowania syna z tym zaburzeniem. Bardzo się cieszę, że sięgnęłam po te pozycję choć szkoda, że tak późno.
„Łagodny szczeniak nigdy nie skrzywdzi swojego właściciela, ale przestraszony czy przyparty do muru może ugryźć. Nie powinno się oskarżać; to ci, którzy do tego doprowadzają, zasługują na karę.”
W dzisiejszych czasach bardzo często spotykamy zaburzenie z deficytem uwagi i nadaktywnością. ADHD powoduję, że inteligentne dzieci mają problemy z czytaniem , pisaniem a czasem nawet z mową. Autorzy w bardzo przystępny i jasny sposób wyjaśniają tajemnice tego zaburzenia począwszy od klasyfikacji według DSM –IV poprzez wyjaśnienie czym w swojej postaci jest nadaktywność, co może mieć na nią wpływ aż do skutecznego leczenia stymulantami. Przyznam szczerze, że mnie najbardziej pochłonęło zagadnienie o stymulantach jakie są wartościowe w leczeniu zaburzenia. Treść jest przekazywana w sposób prosty- nie znajdziemy tu zbyt trudnej, naukowej terminologii a jeśli już takowa się pojawi to jest wyjaśniania w taki sposób, że naprawdę nikt nie będzie miał wątpliwości co do terminologii.
Uważam, ze ta pozycja jest bardzo przydatna nie tylko dla rodziców czy nawet osób zmagających się z problemem ADHD , ale również dla każdego kto chciałby sobie przybliżyć znajomość tego tematu. W książce znajdują się informacje które, w moim odczuciu, są równie ważne w wychowaniu każdego dziecka, nie tylko tego z zaburzeniami.
Autor mocno podkreśla jak dużą role w całym procesie wychowania i leczenia mają rodzice – „ W boksie zwycięzcą zostaje ten, kto używa więcej siły „ , natomiast w wychowaniu jest zupełnie na odwrót.
„Łagodny szczeniak nigdy nie skrzywdzi swojego właściciela, ale przestraszony czy przyparty do muru może ugryźć. Nie powinno się oskarżać; to ci, którzy do tego doprowadzają, zasługują na karę.”
W dzisiejszych czasach bardzo często spotykamy zaburzenie z deficytem uwagi i nadaktywnością. ADHD powoduję, że inteligentne dzieci mają problemy z czytaniem , pisaniem a czasem nawet z mową. Autorzy w bardzo przystępny i jasny sposób wyjaśniają tajemnice tego zaburzenia począwszy od klasyfikacji według DSM –IV poprzez wyjaśnienie czym w swojej postaci jest nadaktywność, co może mieć na nią wpływ aż do skutecznego leczenia stymulantami. Przyznam szczerze, że mnie najbardziej pochłonęło zagadnienie o stymulantach jakie są wartościowe w leczeniu zaburzenia. Treść jest przekazywana w sposób prosty- nie znajdziemy tu zbyt trudnej, naukowej terminologii a jeśli już takowa się pojawi to jest wyjaśniania w taki sposób, że naprawdę nikt nie będzie miał wątpliwości co do terminologii.
Uważam, ze ta pozycja jest bardzo przydatna nie tylko dla rodziców czy nawet osób zmagających się z problemem ADHD , ale również dla każdego kto chciałby sobie przybliżyć znajomość tego tematu. W książce znajdują się informacje które, w moim odczuciu, są równie ważne w wychowaniu każdego dziecka, nie tylko tego z zaburzeniami.
Autor mocno podkreśla jak dużą role w całym procesie wychowania i leczenia mają rodzice – „ W boksie zwycięzcą zostaje ten, kto używa więcej siły „ , natomiast w wychowaniu jest zupełnie na odwrót.
December 1, 2013
My son was diagnosed a number of years ago with ADHD which has never sat well with me as I believe he has other issues. I researched after getting the diagnosis but always felt that ADHD was a copout diagnosis. However, after reading this book I may be starting to believe it is actually a proper condition not a poor parenting copout.
January 10, 2015
My child has just been diagnosed with ADD - this book (although a little dated now) was extremely helpful with expanding further the information given to us by the Paediatrician. Well worth the time taken to read it.
July 1, 2019
A fabulous resource for anyone with ADHD or a parent/carer of a child with ADHD. It lays out the research and current understanding of the disorder and gives some tips for handling & dealing with the disorder. A necessary read for anyone heading down the path to a diagnosis.
November 15, 2015
Although fairly old with regards to ADHD research, still a very handy book to have; explaining ADHD without being an academic handbook.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews