Bright Kids Who Can't Keep Up: Help Your Child Overcome Slow Processing Speed And Succeed In A Fast Paced World

Description

Do you find yourself constantly asking your child to "pick up the pace"? Does he or she seem to take longer than others to get stuff done--whether completing homework, responding when spoken to, or getting dressed and ready in the morning? Drs. Ellen Braaten and Brian Willoughby have worked with thousands of kids and teens who struggle with an area of cognitive functioning called "processing speed," and who are often mislabeled as lazy or unmotivated. Filled with vivid stories and examples, this crucial resource demystifies processing speed and shows how to help kids (ages 5 to 18) catch up in this key area of development. Helpful practical tools can be downloaded and printed in a convenient 8 1/2" x 11" size. Learn how to obtain needed support at school, what to expect from a professional evaluation, and how you can make daily routines more efficient--while promoting your child's social and emotional well-being.

Reviews

"Superb, immensely helpful, authoritative; written with clarity, insight, and pizzazz. Highly recommended."--Edward Hallowell, MD, coauthor of "Driven to Distraction" "Finally, a book that tackles processing speed head on! After my son was diagnosed with slow processing speed, I began searching for answers. This is the first book that focuses on all the aspects of slow processing speed: home life, school life, and the emotional toll. Just like my son, the children described in this book all want to work hard and do well, but something is blocking them from thriving. The authors guide you to make a consistent, targeted plan to help your child live up to his or her potential. As a teacher, this book is also helping me understand and address learning issues that I often see in the classroom."--Sarah R., parent "If you picture child development as a marathon, life for kids with processing speed issues is more like a steeplechase, with barriers and obstacles that have enormous implications for learning and social and emotional development. This book offers parents an extraordinary gift of knowledge and wisdom to aid in recognizing, understanding, and addressing the challenges of slow processing speed. Drs. Braaten and Willoughby help you accommodate your child's needs and promote essential skills so he or she can thrive."--Jerrold F. Rosenbaum, MD, Chief of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital; Stanley Cobb Professor of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School "Drs. Braaten and Willoughby do an exceptional job of deconstructing the complex construct of processing speed. Through examples, articulate explanations of testing results, and clear descriptions of brain processes, this book provides a road map for parents."--Timothy E. Wilens, MD, author of "Straight Talk about Psychiatric Medications for Kids" "Parents in our neurodevelopmental clinic often ask, 'If my kid is so smart, why is he so slow?' Finally, there is a book to help parents und

Author description

Ellen Braaten, PhD, is Director of the Learning and Emotional Assessment Program (LEAP) at Massachusetts General Hospital and Assistant Professor of Psychology at Harvard Medical School. The coauthor of Straight Talk about Psychological Testing for Kids, Dr. Braaten lives with her family in Boston. Brian Willoughby, PhD, is a Staff Psychologist at LEAP and a faculty member at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Willoughby specializes in neuropsychological assessments of children and adolescents with learning, developmental, and emotional concerns. He is married and lives in Boston.

Table of contents

I. Understanding Processing Speed1. "If My Kid Is So Smart, Why Is He So Slow?"2. "My Child Doesn't Seem to Be Able to Keep Up ... Now What Do I Do?"3. "So What, Exactly, Is Processing Speed?"II. Helping Your Child Keep Up in Daily Life4. Processing Speed in the Family5. Processing Speed at Home6. Processing Speed in the Classroom7. Processing Speed and Social Relationships8. The Emotional Costs of Slow Processing SpeedIII. Staying Informed9. Pulling It All Together: Formally Assessing Processing SpeedResourcesIndex