Attention Deficit Hyperactivity
Disorder (ADHD) has been referred to as the disorder du jour.  It is difficult
to go through a week without seeing an article in a popular magazine or a
segment on the nightly news that deals with ADHD.  This heightened awareness
has lead to some negative consequences, the most serious being the
implementation of interventions with no scientific evidence to support their
use.  School personnel need to be aware of the most recent research on ADHD if
they are to provide appropriate interventions in the classroom.  An excellent
source for obtaining this information is ADHD in the Schools, by George
J. DuPaul and Gary Stoner, published by The Guildford Press (NY).  It is a
heavily referenced book that provides practitioners and parents with a wealth
of sources for additional exploration.

The book is divided into 9
chapters.  The first 4 chapters deal with an overview of ADHD, assessment and differential diagnosis (ADHD vs. Learning Disorders). 
Chapters 5 through 8 focus on intervention strategies, medication, adjunctive
strategies and collaborative communication.  The final chapter provides the
reader with cogent conclusions and a look toward the future.  The authors
provide very useful charts and worksheets to be used in schools.  Particularly
helpful are steps to follow when carrying out programs.  And while this is
appropriate for all school personnel, it is particularly useful for school
psychologists.  This is not surprising in that both authors are directors
of the school psychology programs at their respective universities.

Case
studies are presented throughout and are helpful in illustrating key concepts. 
The research findings are the most recent in the field, and although might
appear overwhelming at times, provides the readers with a variety of articles
to examine in the future.

It is
refreshing to find a book on this topic that presents what we know, based on
empirical findings, not merely beliefs and folklore.  It is essential reading
for all educators.

© 2004 Barry McNamara

Dr. Barry
McNamara is a Professor of Special Education at Dowling
College, NY, and is author of several books, including Keys to
Parenting a Child With Attention Deficit Disorders and Keys to Dealing
With Bullies, both coauthored with Francine McNamara, and Learning
Disabilities: Appropriate Practice for a Diverse Population.

Categories: ChildhoodDisorders