Kids in the Syndrome Mix of ADHD, LD, Asperger's, Tourette's, Bipolar and More!. The One Stop Guide for Parents, Teachers and Other Professionals

Customer Reviews

Everyone that comes in contact with kids should read this book!

2008-04-28
Gives great explanation for how childhood disorders can co-occur. I recommend it for everyone who is lucky enough to work with kids or have kids of their own read this book.

Good for parents not professsionals

2008-02-15
A good resource for parents that need some understaning and explanation.
It is too basic for professioanls.

Helpful, but general

2008-02-08
"Kids in the Syndrome Mix" is helpful and covers the common diagnoses we encounter in the classroom. I would couple this purchase with another title to gain insight into the families involved in these personal struggles, to add a level of intimacy and personalization, and to learn of symptoms first hand. I recommend buying this book along with "Mommy I'm Still in Here" by Kate McLaughlin. With both books, you begin to see the whole picture.

An Excellent Resource for Understanding Complicated Children

2008-01-02
This is one of the best books that I have read to help me understand not only my own complicated child but many of the boys and girls that I have taught over the years. Martin Kutscher and the other contributing writers do an excellent job explaining the characteristics and challenges of a variety of common syndromes like ADHD, Aspergers, LD, etc. The authors show readers how to help children and young adults function in our world.

I highly recommend parents and teachers of children with special needs to read and discuss this book. Although I have read numerous other books about children with ADHD, Asperger's, etc, this book provides a lot of valuable information and useful suggestions in an easy to understand format. This would be a great book to use in schools for staff development.

I COULDN'T PUT IT DOWN!

2007-12-20
First of all, it is written to be an aid or a starting point for parents and teachers, etc., as to what to look for in the children in their care. It is not written as reference book with all the answers (as the person who gave it a two-star rating expected it to be). It gives overviews of the syndromes and disorders and breaks them down into ways for us to understand what is happening to our children, and, most importantly, WHY it's happening to them. They're not lazy, bad or out of control, their brains are just wired differently than other brains. It provides tips and ideas to incorporate when dealing with problems that come up with our children in their day-to-day lives.
My child suffers from ADHD without hyperactivity, bipolar disorder, PDD-NOS, and depression. I've read other books, countless articles and spoken to counselors over the years, but I was able to understand these disorders so much better after reading this book. I don't read very quickly but I was able to read this book in very little time. I've recommended it to friends, teachers, & administrators; I recommend it to you, too.

Good Overview

2007-12-18
Kids in the Syndrome Mix is a concise, scientifically up-to-date, all-in-one guide to the whole range of often co-existing neuro-behavioral disorders in childrenfrom attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), obsessive-compulsive disorder, and bipolar disorder, to autistic spectrum disorders, nonverbal learning disabilities, sensory integration problems, and executive dysfunction.

Dr. Kutscher provides accessible information on causes, symptoms, interactions with other conditions, and treatments. He presents effective behavioral strategies for responding to children who display traits of these disorderswhether at home, at school, or in other settingsalong with case vignettes and practical tips.

The author's sympathetic yet upbeat approach and skillful explanations of the inner world of children in the syndrome mix make this an invaluable companion for parents, teachers, professionals, and anyone else who needs fast and to-the-point advice on children with special needs.

Kids in the syndrome mix 2007-12-03
This is a very helpful book for parents who have a definite diagnosis for their child and even better for parents of children whose diagnosis is not straight forward or whose diagnosis may be incomplete. The author uses lots of examples to illustrate his point. He keeps the book short. He gives lots of practical advice and great explanations.

Lots of Information in an Easy to Read Book 2007-08-26
As an Occupational Therapist I focus on the obstacles my students face in their everyday lives and particularly in school. Often my students have received a diagnosis of ADHD but actually present with symptoms that, in my opinion, are better represented by other disorders such as Aspergers and Central Auditory Processing Disorders. Dr. Kutscher's book emphasizes the co occurence of various disorders and confirms that a single diagnosis is the exception and not the norm in these complex students.
The book is packed with information that includes essential vocabulary and concepts, web sites,and reference to experts in research and treatment. While Dr. Kutscher jokes about how he may be oversimplifying concepts and brain function, he actually includes many key concepts that can greatly clarify the struggles of children in the syndrome mix. Some examples of the information presented in the book that, I believe, would enlighten teachers, pediatricians, parents,etc. include the following: the demoralizing result of receiving a zero on a school paper;the Connor's checklist;contextual clues and reading; phonological dysfunction and early signs of dyslexia;Fry's Instant Word List; establishing a hand dominence by 2; the 4 areas of communication;Theory of Mind; an adult using "child speak" to help a child develop social skills; social stories; using the child's special interests to engineer friendships; and sensory integration dysfunction. If the reader takes advantage of the suggestions in the Further Reading section then more in depth knowledge of subjects that are only touched upon in the book can be obtained.

Dr. Kutscher reminds us not to treat these complex children as typical because they are not. One can view them as having a wonderful uniqueness or as having a disability that needs to be accomodated for. I agree it is very important not to expect typical behaviors from these children. For them to become all that they can be and to have good self esteem, they need special consideration and help.I enjoy working with these children and I am often impressed by their uniqueness and gifts.

Thank you, Dr. Kutscher! 2007-07-30
I want to know how the author knew my kid to a "T" without ever having met him! This book was amazing and tied together several of my son's challenges in ways that no one ever had before! Instead of dealing with each "diagnosis" in isolation, they were related to one another and the interactions - positive and negative - were examined. Just knowing why something that "should" work didn't - in such clear and reasonable language - takes SO MUCH of the stress off of us as parents, advocates and caregivers.

The language, terminology and humor made this a very accessible and comfortable read. The density of information made it a reasonable slow but very rewarding read. I would HIGHLY recommend this book to any parent, teacher, grandparent, friend or cargiver of a child (or adult)with any of the neurodevelopmental disorders it covers. You'll most likely find out that the picture is more complex but definitely more manageable and less frustrating when all the variables are considered.

Thank you, Dr. Kutscher!

Expectations fulfilled to the max 2007-06-09
i received the book in perfect condition and a timely fashion. A pleasure!