A Preemie Child
Book Reviews
By: Allison Martin
Preemie-child is a email support listserv for parents of children who were born prematurely and are now 4 years or older. Children who are born very prematurely may continue to have disabilities and/or special needs which require attention as they enter school and society. The mailing list brings together this small (but growing) group of families for support as we learn from each other's experiences.

For information please write me, Allison Martin at: cyberfam@mindspring.com
or visit the preemie-child website at: http://www.comeunity.com/premature

Books on some of the potential long term impacts of prematurity

Long term effects of prematurity for each child are almost as variable as individual personalities can be. One of the popular activities for parents on the preemie-child mailing list is finding similarities in our children due to prematurity - especially intriguing are similarities that we previously thought were individual idiosyncrasies. The next step, for me, has been to start to gather resources on the some of the areas of commonality, so that parents on the mailing list and parents of younger children can find answers to issues that as they begin to surface.

This month I'd like to provide short reviews of books that best address some of the broader areas of potential long term impacts of prematurity. I would love to hear your suggestions for other books which would be helpful for parents of older preemies (please jot a note to: cyberfam@mindspring.com ). The complete reviews of these and other books can be found on the preemie-child website at this address: http://www.comeunity.com/dbooklist.html  

  • The Out-of-Sync Child. Carol Stock Kranowitz, 1998, Perigee; ISBN: 0399523863
    Sensory integration problems affect the mood, development and education of many babies and children, and yet chances are you have never heard of it unless your child is examined by an occupational therapist. Children born prematurely seem especially susceptible to sensory integration issues. This is the most up-to-date book about identifying and treating sensory dysfunction now available.
  • Dr. Larry Silver's Advice to Parents on Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Dr. Larry Silver. 1992. Amer Psychiatric Pr; ISBN: 088048561
    Dr. Larry Silver's Advice to Parents on Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is recommended for a complete and reliable discussion of ADHD, its effect on your child and family, recommended treatment options, and life and school adaptations. Although there are more recent books, with its in-depth look at the impact of Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) on a child and his or her family, this book still provides one of the better overviews of ADHD in children.
  • No Easy Answers : The Learning Disabled Child at Home and at School. Sally Smith. 1995. Bantam Books; ISBN: 055335450
    There are many great books on learning disabilities. This book stands out for its description of the characteristics of children with various learning disabilities and the impact of learning disabilities on a child’s life, family and functioning in school. Sally Smith is the founder and director of the Lab School of Washington, which well renowned for its approach to the education of children with learning disabilities.
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