DISCONNECTED KIDS: The Groundbreaking Brain Balance Program for Children with Autism, AD/HD, Dyslexia and Other Neurological DisordersBy Dr. Robert Melillo
Perigee Hardcover
On-Sale: January 6, 2009
ISBN: 978-0-399-53475-1
$24.95
Visit us on the web at www.penguin.com
This book is about a program developed by Dr. Robert Melillo that is designed to treat neurological disorders. The book is set up in two parts. The first part of the book discusses the brain. How it develops, functions, and grows. It covers right and left brain functions in detail. The second part covers in detail how to begin the assessment process, establish and implement the program.
I think this book was well written. I enjoyed reading about the functions of the brain, specifically what areas are controlled by the right and left sides of the brain. I also enjoyed taking one of the assessments to determine the areas of deficiency in the right and left sides of the brain. The results, my son has more right brain deficiencies then left, but overall he has a severe overbalance. I did not like the paragraph that lists parents as one of the environmental factors of neurological disorders such as Autism, ADHD and Dyslexia. I do believe that there are environmental factors that play a part in these types of disorders. His reasons for listing parents as factors were that most families have both parents working or are single parent families. In both cases, the child is left with others to be raised. I was a stay at home mother for the first two and a half years of my son's life. My son started displaying signs of Autism at the age of six months. (I did not realize it at the time. I simply thought that they were cute little quarks that my son was developing.)
As for the treatment, I don't have an opinion. I have not heard of this therapy before. Does it work? Should you try it? I don't know the answers to those questions. The author says it does work and you should try it if you are able to make the committment to follow through with the program.
I have to be honest and admit that I could not implement this program with my son. There is a lot involved. Multiple exercises and activities, nutritional supplements, change in diet. I would love to try everything for my son, but it is just not possible. I don't have the time or money to implement this type of program. Can I recommend it to my readers? No. But only because this book is the first time I have heard about this program. However, if you are searching for an alternative treatment that can be done at home and without drugs, you might want to read about this treatment and discuss it with your child's doctor.
4 comments:
Now I am curious! I don't have any children with autism, but it has always fascinated me.
thanks for the review!
I found this book yesterday 1/21/09 And couldnt explain why it cept jumping out at me during my visit to the book store. i purchased it and stayed up until 3am reading the information. I have 3yr old twin boys with delayed speach and one closer to the characteristics of autism. I didnt want to be a parent in denial and pretend that he is ok because something is off, but at the same time the autism label just wasnt fitting and as I got further and further into this book moreso than typical autism treatments this one just seemed to fit our situation. It is like mommy instinct kicked in and said this is it. This fits our behaviors and everthing fits. Im excited to implement this program. And if unsuccesful going at it alone there is a center in louisianna that is only 3hrs away. I am very excited.
In my many years of researching options for helping my son (now 10), this books combines all of the healing modalities into a one-stop resource. I understand the original comment regarding the amount of time it would take to implement the whole program. I'm a full time working mother of three, so time is important. However, what I've realized is that even by incorporating a small fraction of the exercises, especially the eye exercises as they play a huge role in many areas of daily living, I'm doing all I can do TODAY to help my son improve.
My advice: try what you can in small steps. Perhaps begin by making some dietary changes and incorporating some sensory exercises 3 days a week. You will see positive changes. Continue to add things as you can. Celebrate what you have done without fretting about what you did not do.
With any book or reference, I will take what sounds right for our family and leave out the rest. If some of the treatments take more time than what I currently have, I will do what I do have time for. I'm willing to do things for the health of my son and ultimately the health of my family and community.
I think this book should be given to all health professionals dealing with autism, ADHD and other neurological issues. Don't knock something until you try it, I always say.
With doing the eye exercises only for two weeks, I'm already seeing a tracking improvement and an increase in the ability to focus on an object.
Thank you to Dr. Melillo for writing this book!
We've just launched a new blog that includes more research and information about the Brain Balance Program. Please visit us when you get a chance: www.brainbalancegablog.com.
Thank you!
The Brain Balance Georgia Centers
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