Attention deficit disorder, attention deficit hyperactive disorder, pervasive developmental disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, asperger's syndrome, and autism, to name but a few, may be viewed as points on a spectrum of developmental disabilities in which those points share features in common and possibly etiology as well, varying only in severity and in the primary anatomical region of dysfunctional activity. This text focuses on alterations of the normal development of the child. A working theory is presented based on what we know of the neurological and cognitive development in the context of evolution of the human species and its brain. In outlining our theory of developmental disabilities in evolutionary terms, the authors offer evidence to support the following notions: Bipedalism was the major reason for human neocortical evolution; Cognition evolved secondary and parallel to evolution of motricity; There exists an overlap of cognitive and motor symptoms; Lack of thalamo-cortical stimulation, not overstimulation, is a fundamental problem of developmental disabilities; A primary problem is dysfunctions of hemisphericity; Most conditions in this spectrum of disorders are the result of a right hemisphericity; Environment is a fundamental problem; All of these conditions are variations of the same problem; These problems are correctable; Hemisphere specific treatment is the key to success.

Offering a bold new understanding of the causes of such disorders as autism, ADHD, Asperger's, dyslexia, and OCD, an effective drug-free program addresses both the symptoms and causes of conditions involving a disconnection between the left and right sides of the developing brain, with customizable exercises, behavior modification advice, nutritional guidelines, and more.

The Handbook of Speech and Language Disorders presents a comprehensive survey of the latest research in communication disorders. Contributions from leading experts explore current issues, landmark studies, and the main topics in the field, and include relevant information on analytical methods and assessment. A series of foundational chapters covers a variety of important general principles irrespective of specific disorders. These chapters focus on such topics as classification, diversity considerations, intelligibility, the impact of genetic syndromes, and principles of assessment and intervention. Other chapters cover a wide range of language, speech, and cognitive/intellectual disorders.

Increasingly more and more children with developmental disabilities survive into adulthood. Pediatricians and other clinicians are called upon to care for an increasing number of children with developmental disabilities in their practice and thus there is a need for a practical guide specifically written for paediatricians and primary care clinicians that addresses major concepts of neurodevelopmental pediatrics. In the United States, the specialty training leading to a conjoint board certification by the American Board of Pediatrics and American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, requires a total of 6 years of training (2 years of pediatrics, 1 year of neurology, 18 months of child neurology, 18 months of neurodevelopmental disabilities). As of December 2006, in the US, there were 241 pediatricians and 55 child neurologists certified in the subspecialty of Neurodevelopmental Disabilities. Thus most of the children with developmental disabilities are seen by pediatricians and therefore it is important for these pediatricians to be well informed of common issues in the field. The 60,000 or so pediatricians in the United States (and hundreds more in other countries) are the main target audience for a practical book on neurodevelopmental pediatrics.

Brain disordersâ€"neurological, psychiatric, and developmentalâ€"now affect at least 250 million people in the developing world, and this number is expected to rise as life expectancy increases. Yet public and private health systems in developing countries have paid relatively little attention to brain disorders. The negative attitudes, prejudice, and stigma that often surround many of these disorders have contributed to this neglect. Lacking proper diagnosis and treatment, millions of individual lives are lost to disability and death. Such conditions exact both personal and economic costs on families, communities, and nations. The report describes the causes and risk factors associated with brain disorders. It focuses on six representative brain disorders that are prevalent in developing countries: developmental disabilities, epilepsy, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression, and stroke. The report makes detailed recommendations of ways to reduce the toll exacted by these six disorders. In broader strokes, the report also proposes six major strategies toward reducing the overall burden of brain disorders in the developing world.

This book provides concise and cutting-edge studies on threats resulting from exposure to environmental chemicals that can affect human health and development, with a particular emphasis on the DOHaD concept. The book is divided into five main parts, the first of which includes an introduction to the impacts of developmental exposure to environmental chemicals and historical perspectives, while the second focuses on how environmental chemicals can affect human organs, including neurodevelopment, immune functions, etc. In turn, the third part addresses the characteristics of specific chemicals and their effects on human health and development, while the fourth part provides a basis for future studies by highlighting the latest innovations in toxicology, remaining challenges, and promising strategies in children’s environmental health research, as well as ideas on how to bridge the gap between research evidence and practical policymaking. The fifth and last part outlines further research directions and related policymaking aspects. Health Impacts of Developmental Exposure to Environmental Chemicals will appeal to young and veteran researchers, students, and physicians (especially gynecologists and pediatricians) who are seeking comprehensive information on how children’s health can be affected by harmful chemicals and other environmental toxicants.

How we raise young children is one of today's most highly personalized and sharply politicized issues, in part because each of us can claim some level of "expertise." The debate has intensified as discoveries about our development-in the womb and in the first months and years-have reached the popular media. How can we use our burgeoning knowledge to assure the well-being of all young children, for their own sake as well as for the sake of our nation? Drawing from new findings, this book presents important conclusions about nature-versus-nurture, the impact of being born into a working family, the effect of politics on programs for children, the costs and benefits of intervention, and other issues. The committee issues a series of challenges to decision makers regarding the quality of child care, issues of racial and ethnic diversity, the integration of children's cognitive and emotional development, and more. Authoritative yet accessible, From Neurons to Neighborhoods presents the evidence about "brain wiring" and how kids learn to speak, think, and regulate their behavior. It examines the effect of the climate-family, child care, community-within which the child grows.

It seems as though each day more children are diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). ADHD causes challenges not only for the patient but also for their parents, siblings, teachers, and other significant people in their lives. They have an increased vulnerability to addiction and crime. Controversially, stimulants are the primary choice for treatment of ADHD in medical management, and the side effects of this long-term pharmacological management has raised many questions. Psychosocial management including parent training, behavior therapy, and educational inputs are also major components of treatment and should not be ignored. Thus, it is vital to explore the latest best practices for the diagnosis, assessment, and management of ADHD. New Developments in Diagnosing, Assessing, and Treating ADHD is a collection of research on innovations in the management of ADHD. While highlighting topics including adolescent care, neurological disorders, and mental health, this book is ideally designed for academicians, clinicians (especially psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, and pediatricians), social workers, psychiatric nurses, rehabilitation centers, researchers, and students interested in the handling of this disorder and the long-term effects and social risk factors associated with treatment.

Persisting neurobehavioural disability follows many forms of serious brain injury and acts as a major constraint on social independence. Rehabilitation services are often not organised in a way which addresses the needs of people with such disability, and relatively few professionals have experience in the clinical management of complex disability patterns which comprise the neurobehavioural syndrome. This book is a compilation of chapters, written by a group of clinicians with experience of post acute brain injury rehabilitation to ameliorate the social handicap experienced by a growing number of people who survive serious brain injury. The aim of the book is to describe the nature of neurobehavioural disability, how it translates into social handicap, and what can be done to address the problems generated by such handicap, through social and behavioural rehabilitation, vocational training, and family education. Consideration is also given to evaluating post-acute rehabilitation methods and selecting the most appropriate form of rehabilitation, both in terms of clinical and cost effectiveness. The book is aimed at clinical psychologists, psychiatrists and neurologists working in brain injury rehabilitation, plus all the rehabilitation disciplines, and social workers. The book will also be of interest to relatives of brain injured people who are seeking a better knowledge base in order to understand neurobehavioural disability. Additionally, the book should be helpful to the growing number of therapy care assistants, case managers, and support workers, responsible for the day to day care of brain injured people in the community.

It addresses the concerns of two audiences: psychotherapists who treat children and adolescents with learning disorders, and professionals, such as neuropsychologists, clinical and school psychologists, and learning-disability specialists, who are involved in the assessment and remediation of children's learning disorders."--BOOK JACKET.