Health

"Sound professional advice and a caring commitment to work with you to do what's best for your child -- that's what anyone who is the parent of a child with cerebral palsy wants. And that's what Drs. Miller and Bachrach and their colleagues offer in this book." -- from the Foreword by Joan Lenett Whinston, parent of a child with cerebral palsy and author of "I'm Joshua "&" "Yes I Can""

Written by a team of experts associated with the duPont Hospital for Children, this book provides an authoritative overview of cerebral palsy, a term for a group of chronic conditions affecting body movements and muscle coordination, caused by damage to one or more areas of the brain, usually during fetal development. The condition is often difficult to diagnose, and predictions about long-term prognosis seldom come before the child's second birthday.

The authors describe the specific patterns of involvement (hemiplegia, diplegia, quadriplegia), explain the medical and psychosocial implications of these conditions, and show parents how to be effective advocates for their child. They provide a wealth of practical advice about caregiving and explain medical terms and diagnoses, surgical procedures, orthopedic devices, and assistive technologies. The book also includes lists of resources and recommended reading.

" "Cerebral Palsy" addresses the many complexities and uncertainties related to this diagnosis. At the same time, it provides the information parents, grandparents, caregivers, and health professionals need -- everything from medical, educational, and psychosocial implications to wheelchair maintenance and dental care."" -- Exceptional Parent"

Stanley Greenspan, internationally known for his work with infants, young children, and their families, and his colleague, nationally recognized child psychologist Serena Wieder, have for the first time integrated their award-winning research and clinical experience into a definitive guide to raising children with special needs. In this essential work they lay out a complete, step-by-step approach for parents, educators, and others who work with developmental problems. Covering all kinds of disabilities--including autism, PPD, language and speech problems, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, and ADD--the authors offer a new understanding of the nature of these challenges and also specific ways of helping children extend their intellectual and emotional potential.The authors first show how to move beyond labels to observe the unique profile--strengths and problems--of the individual child. Next, they demonstrate the techniques necessary to help the child not only reach key milestones but also develop new emotional and intellectual capacities. Greenspan's well-known ?floortime? approach enables parents, as well as clinicians, to use seemingly playful interactions that help children actually move up the development ladder and often master creative and abstract thinking formerly thought beyond their reach. Including vivid case histories, the book also offers deep and compassionate understanding of the stresses and rewards involved in raising a child with special needs.whose amazing work with autistic and other special needs children is nationally known, and his colleague, child psychologist Serena Wieder, have integrated a lifetime of research and clinical practice into a single, comprehensive guide for parents. Covering all kinds of disabilities--including cerebral palsy, autism, retardation, ADD, PDD, and language problems--the book offers specific ways of helping all children reach their full intellectual and emotional potential.First the authors show how to move beyond the label and observe the strengths and problems of the particular child and the key milestones that must be reached. Next, they move step by step through the techniques necessary to help the child reach these milestones and show how to tailor these to each child. Finally, with a deep and compassionate understanding they outline the marital, educational, and social stresses and rewards in raising a special needs child.