Children with Disabilities: A Medical Primer, 3d ed.

Batshaw ML, Perret YM. Baltimore, MD 21285-0624, Paul H Brookes Publishing Co, 1992, paperback, 664 pp, illus, $28.

The third edition of this book is aimed at a wide audience that includes medical professionals who work with children who have developmental disabilities, as well as their parents. It was originally written as a college text and reference book and would still serve those purposes well. The book contains 29 chapters that are written at different levels of complexity. The first 6 chapters discuss what happens before, during, and after birth to cause a child to have a developmental disability. This section is written in a clear, simple manner that is very appropriate for parents. Very practical information is provided in chapters about nutrition and feeding the child with disabilities. Chapters on various body systems, including the brain and nervous system, bones, joints and muscles, normal and abnormal development, the oral system (dental care), vision, and hearing and language development, provide overviews as to how these systems work, what can go wrong, and potential treatments.

Specific developmental disorders including prematurity, inborn errors of metabolism, learning disabilities, attention deficit hyperactive disorder, autism, dual diagnosis, cerebral palsy, neural tube defects, seizure disorders, and traumatic brain injury are each covered in sufficient depth to be quite useful and informative to pediatric medical professionals. At the conclusion of each chapter, case studies that are related to the developmental course of a child with that particular disability are provided.

Two of the five new chapters that have been added to this edition are especially noteworthy. "New Threats to Development" addresses the developmental sequelae of alcohol and cocaine prenatal exposure and pediatric human immunodeficiency virus infection. This chapter provides up-to-date information on these conditions and how they may affect developmental outcome. The other new chapter, entitled "The Technology-Assisted Child," provides pertinent information on recent medical technology advances in respiratory assistance, monitoring devices, feeding assistance, intravenous therapy, and kidney dialysis. This chapter is pertinent to a large number of children who have developmental disabilities and, therefore, extremely useful for the pediatric medical professional.

The final two chapters address frequently encountered ethical issues and the coping mechanisms used by families who have children with disabilities. Although the coverage in these chapters is brief, at least the issues are raised and addressed and help provide a well-rounded conclusion.

This is a well-organized book that includes many helpful tables and useful illustrations. In addition to the extensive information in the body of the book, the appendixes contain a glossary of terms that are highlighted throughout the text. There is also a description of numerous developmental syndromes and a list of resources for children who have disabilities.

Children with Disabilities is a well-written text that is highly recommended for health professionals who are entering the field of pediatrics, including physical therapists and physical therapist assistants. Experienced practitioners should find the book to be a useful resource and a good addition to their professional library.