Reversing Dyslexia: Improving Learning and Behavior without Drugs Reviews
Library Journal review (dated Sept. 16, 2013)
Libray Journal
Focus on Dyslexia
Books, Phyllis. Reversing Dyslexia: Improving Learning and Behavior Without Drugs. Square One. 2013. 146p. bibliog. index. ISBN 9780757003783. pap. $16.95. ED
Books is a chiropractor, certified clinical nutritionist, instructor, and founder of a multidisciplinary system for people with learning disorders, making her, thus, uniquely qualified to explore the topic of “improving learning and behavior without drugs” in people with dyslexia. According to the author, we have limited our view of the disorder to difficulty with reading and writing rather than a “disorder that permeates a person’s entire life” leading to a variety of symptoms affecting behavior, attitudes, organization, and thought processes. Here, Books attempts to dispel the myth that dyslexia is a permanent disorder; her goal is to empower parents as advocates for their children and increase the self-esteem of dyslexic children. She points to markers that identify dyslexia and examines related conditions such as ADHD, depression, and anxiety that can be hidden indicators of the disorder. Books then explores therapies with a focus on alternative treatments, nutritional changes, and the possibility of rewiring the brain through the use of exercise, music, and play. VERDICT Books’s 25 years of investigation into dyslexia is evident in this work as she supplies a wealth of information for parents and teachers of newly diagnosed children and provides an excellent general compendium on alternative therapies.—Julia M. Reffner, Fairport, NY
Publishers’ Weekly
Operating from the standpoint that it is possible to “rewire the neural pathways of the brain” in order to eliminate dyslexia, Dr. Books has established a positive, nature-based manual for those who do not accept merely compensating for the learning disorder as a solution. She delves into specific symptoms, showcasing the surprising breadth of this learning difficulty, then going on to delineate how the weight of such symptoms can affect a child’s self-image and emotional health. In focusing on the physical composure of the brain, she offers numerous hints—restrict television for those under the age of eight, for instance—to prevent learning difficulties from ever gaining a foothold. After a great deal of necessary overview, Dr. Books summarizes particular therapies that can help rewire the brain in order to, as the title suggests, actually reverse dyslexia. These include neurofeedback, Interactive Metronome, and Educational Kinesiology in addition the author’s own Books Neural Therapy. While this book will not equip caregivers or educators to single-handedly undo dyslexia, it does provide a solid blueprint, encompassing suggestions for how to find the right therapist(s) and an at-home therapeutic outline that relies on proper nutrition and the integration of physical play and music into a child’s routine. (Sept.)
Release date: 05/01/2013