Archives: Books

Communicating without Speech

This book is aimed at health professionals treating children who fail to develop adequate speech due to complex neurological conditions or learning disabilities and may require augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) systems.

By presenting current research and accepted good practice in the field of AAC, authors give detailed information on the neurology of speech and language, and offer guidelines for the assessment of non-speaking children. Issues of prognosis for speech, the timing of intervention and the importance of working within a multidisciplinary framework are discussed. The central role of families and schools in the successful introduction and support of AAC for social communication and curriculum access is recognised. A range of AAC systems and resources are described, and the views of AAC users and their families represented. This is essential reading for clinicians who treat non-speaking children, and the therapists and other professionals who support these children.

Clinics in Developmental Medicine No. 156

Cognitive and Behavioural Disorders of Epileptic Origin in Children

This book describes the effects that different kinds of epilepsy in children can have on the child’s behavior and cognitive development. It is mainly based on the authors’ extensive studies over many years. These are described in the book, together with the available diagnostic methods and therapies. It is written so that the various professionals dealing with such children (paediatricians, neurologists, psychologists) can see their contribution and have a general view of the complex interrelation between medical psychological and educational problems in these children.

Clinics in Developmental Medicine No. 168

Cognition and Behaviour in Childhood Epilepsy

For many parents, cognitive and behavioral comorbidities, such as ADHD, autism and intellectual disability, are the real burden of childhood epilepsy. This title offers concrete guidance and treatment strategies for childhood epilepsy in general, and for the comorbidities associated with each epilepsy syndrome and their pathophysiology. The book is written by experts in the field with an important clinical experience, while chapters by clinical neuropsychologists provide a strong theoretical background.

Readership

Epileptologists, Paediatric Neurologists, Paediatricians and Neuropsychologists.

Full Book Review

Read the full book review by Ram Kumar published in Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology.

Clinics in Developmental Medicine

Clinical Management of Craniosynostosis

Children with craniosynostosis are born with congenital deformities of the face and skull. In severe cases associated problems are common. The child who is not properly cared for can end up blind, deaf and with severe learning difficulties. In addition, they may be left with unacceptable facial deformities. Outside specialized craniofacial units, there is at present nowhere for those involved in primary or secondary care to go for help with the many practical problems that these children present. In this book, a distinguished team of editors have assembled experts in the field to introduce the non-craniofacial specialist to what can be achieved and how they can contribute to the child’s welfare. It will be essential reading for paediatricians seeking practical information about the management of these disorders, and for specialists in neurosurgery, ENT, ophthalmology, plastic surgery, maxillo-facial surgery, orthodontics, psychology, genetics, anaesthesia, audiology and speech therapy.

Clinics in Developmental Medicine No. 163

Children with Neurodevelopmental Disabilities

Children with Neurodevelopmental Disabilities

A comprehensive textbook on the practice of paediatric neurodisability, written by practitioners and experts.

Using a problem-oriented approach, the authors give best-practice guidance, and centre on the needs of the child and family, working in partnership with multi-disciplinary, multi-agency teams. Drawing on evidence-based practice to provide a ready reference for managing common problems encountered in practice. Chapters open with real life clinical case scenarios and lead onto a problem-based approach.

The book covers the practicalities of assessment, management and care of children with a wide range of disabling conditions and also provides tools and templates for practising paediatricians.

The text is illustrated with clear tables, figures, diagrams and flow charts to enable easy referencing. Each section has guidance on further reading, useful websites and other information useful for families.

Readership

Paediatricians (trainees in community and neurodisability paediatrics); consultants in community and general paediatrics; allied health professionals –  physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech and language therapists; educational psychologists and clinical psychologists working with children; other professionals working with disabled children, young people and their families.

Congenital Hemiplegia

This is a comprehensive review of congenital hemiplegia for the clinician covering all aspects from etiology and pathology to clinical assessment and management, whether orthopaedic, neurological or psychological. The team of expert international contributors highlight the many quite distinct problems of hemiplegia and review all the current approaches. Probable future developments are also described, especially unilateral hemisphere lesions, a topic currently of great interest to basic science researchers.

Clinics in Developmental Medicine No. 150

Crying as a Sign, a Symptom and a Signal

Crying as a Sign, a Symptom and a Signal brings the reader up to date on new evidence concerning the developmental and clinical significance of infant crying in the first few months and years of life.

Initially studied as a sign of disease, crying is now being understood not only as a sign, but also as a symptom of problematic functioning in early development.

We now know much more about normative patterns of development of infant crying and how they may be manifest in a variety of clinical settings (emergency room complaint, painful procedures, colic, temper tantrums, non-verbal and mentally challenged infants). This has brought about a new conceptualization of the significance of early infant crying which an international team of experts describe and examine.

In this authoritative clinical text, both historical and methodological perspectives are brought to a multidisciplinary synopsis of the new understanding of this infant behaviour.

Clinics in Developmental Medicine No. 152

Current Concepts in Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus

This book discusses all aspects of the effects of spina bifida and hydrocephalus on the fetus, the child, and the adolescent.

Chapters review neurosurgical techniques, perinatal death and malformation, together with the effects of spina bifida and hydrocephalus on behaviour and education.

Clinics in Developmental Medicine No. 122

Developing Human Brain

  • Well over 200 illustrations, many in colour
  • Co-authored by two experts in neuropathology and neuroimaging
  • Takes a quantitative approach to brain growth in weight, gyrus formation, myelination, and spectroscopy of the developing brain
  • The only book in this field to include chapters in angiogenesis, fetal behaviour, and reactions to chronic illness

This book is about human brain development, focusing on the last half of gestation and the neonatal and infant periods. These periods bring the greatest risk for the acquisition of childhood functional neurologic deficits, including cerebral palsy, developmental delay and intellectual disability.

Section 1 covers typical development, including growth in brain weight, ventricular surfaces, gyral development, myelinated tract development, magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and angiogenesis, all serving as reference points for section 2, which deals with common acquired brain abnormalities, some of which are often underemphasized or overlooked.

The topics in section 2 include retrocerebellar cysts, abnormal events in fetal brain, white-matter abnormalities, lesions of gray and white matter, hemorrhage, ventriculomegaly and hydrocephalus, late expressions of fetal brain disease, and reactions of the developing brain to chronic disease. Between sections 1 and 2 is a chapter on embryonic and fetal physiologic reactions to external stimuli.

Where appropriate, the authors have combined pathologic with neuroimaging examples to help the reader better understand the neuroimages that they encounter.

Much of the information in the book is based on data from the National Collaborative Perinatal Project, still the only large autopsy survey of late fetal brain lesions.

Readership 
Developmental neurobiologists, neuroscientists, paediatricians, neuropathologists, pediatric neuroradiologists, pediatric neurologists, neonatologists, perinatologists.

Clinics in Developmental Medicine No. 193

Disorders of the Spinal Cord in Children

Spinal cord disorders have tended to be approached as adjuncts to disorders of the paediatric brain or peripheral nervous system. This is partly a function of numbers –  specifically spinal pathologies being less frequent than those of the brain and the peripheral neuromuscular system, partly a function of the relatively limited investigation techniques available before the advent of MRI and, at least to some degree, it is because the clinical evaluation of the spinal cord in young children is difficult and may be overshadowed by the manifestations of accompanying brain and peripheral neuromuscular symptomatology.

This is the first book to cover the range of paediatric spinal cord disease, its clinical assessment, appropriate investigation, its medical and neurosurgical management and neuro-rehabilitation.

It is likely that the role of the cord, in conditions ranging from neonatal neurological injury to shaken impact syndrome and in inflammatory and neurometabolic disorders and beyond, will continue to become more evident over coming years.

  • First comprehensive coverage of pediatric spinal medical and neurosurgical disorders, their investigations and management brings the whole topic into focus
  • Definitives chapters on neuro-imaging and neurophysiology

Readership

Paediatric neurologists, paediatric neurosurgeons, paediatric oncologists, paediatric neuroradiologists and neurophysiologists,  rehabilitation physicians and therapists.

Clinics in Developmental Medicine Series