Developmental and Behavioral Complexities in Children: A Guide for Students and Clinicians

Developmental and Behavioral Complexities in Children provides students and young professionals with an understanding of childhood mental health and developmental diagnoses through a series of qualitative vignettes alongside descriptions of clinical diagnoses and an overview of historical changes in the field. A multidisciplinary, collaborative team of authors offer expertise based on questions received throughout their careers. The authors aim to ease some of the confusion that exists when navigating mixed messages about “typical” development, while providing state of the art information about specific diagnoses and clinical strategies and interventions that can be beneficial for children who may or may not meet criteria for a specific diagnosis. The book equips clinicians and students with a framework to guide caregivers in learning to decipher complicated messages around childhood developmental and mental health diagnoses and prepare them to support children’s developmental, social, behavioral, and emotional growth.

Table of Contents:
1. A Time Lapse View of Typical Childhood Development 2. General Behavioral Strategies 3. Intellectual Developmental Disorder or Just a Little Delayed 4. Autism Spectrum or Just a Little Different? 5. Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder or Just Energetic? 6. Oppositional Defiant Disorder or Just Strong Willed? 7. Learning Disorder or Just Not Trying? 8. Anxiety Disorder or Just Really Cautious? 9. Depression or Just “Moody”? 10. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder or Just Overly Neat and Clean? 11. Posttraumatic Stress Disorder or just some Challenging Experiences? 12. An Exploration of Parenting 13. (More) Frequently Asked Questions

About the Author :
Jo-Ann Blaymore Bier, MD is a retired developmental-behavioral pediatrician and former special educator, who was a senior associate at Boston Children’s Hospital with board certifications in developmental-behavioral pediatrics and neurodevelopmental disabilities. Theresa A. Johnson, MS, OTR/L is a registered, licensed occupational therapist at Perkins School for the Blind. She has extensive experience working with children in hospital, developmental clinic, and school settings. Ellen Mullane, LICSW is a licensed independent clinical social worker who has worked with children and families in the medical setting, developmental clinic, and in the community.

Review :
"I would recommend this book to anyone teaching a course on child development. This book is essential for healthcare professionals who must understand diagnoses as well as the behaviors of children and factors that may be affecting development. The authors embrace family-centered care and interprofessional practice and present clinically relevant information in a clear way to support students' and early professionals' clinical reasoning." Jane O’Brien, OTR, FAOTA, occupational therapist, University of New England, professor, retired "A no-nonsense approach for teachers and other professionals in helping kids learn. Answering questions and providing suggestions to address a number of common issues that parents and teachers deal with on a daily basis." Ralph Tripp, retired special education teacher and special education administrator "For the past decade, there has been an increased awareness of the vulnerability of children to stressors and behavioral challenges as well as the recognition of the diversity of learning and complex neurodevelopmental processes underlying learning at school. Bier and colleagues have written a much needed and important roadmap for health professionals, families, and children themselves. The interdisciplinary authors bring together updated scientific perspectives, best diagnostic practices, and practical management advice with a wealth of data driven and lifecourse experiences. In these times of difficulty accessing comprehensive coordinated care, they provide in a single book the sorely needed perspectives so that health professionals, parents, and children have a resource for their journeys toward independence." Michael E. Msall, MD, professor of pediatrics University of Chicago Medicine and director of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics Fellowship Training Program