Pervasive Developmental Disorders: Diagnosis, Options and Answers

This book really helped me sort out the diagnosis I received for my son. I was lost until I read this book. Definately worth buying.

Speaking as someone that is trying to get a better grip on PDD, this book has to be one of the most comprehensive that I have read as of yet. My friend has a child with PDD and I am on a journey to find out as much information as I can. The more knowledge that I acquire, the more support I feel that I can give to my friend and her son. This book equips you with a wide range of topics such as: medications, therapies, and educational techniques so that it enables you to make educated choices when it comes to treatment and intervention.

Covers a wide range of topics from Medical facts, interventions, and diagnostic tools, to school, family, finances and support. It contains everything you need to know to get started in helping the individual affected by this disorder. This book is great for family and professionals alike.

I spent the better part of a year looking for the information that was right here in this book. Mitzi Waltz is not only an author but someone who understands what parents are going through from personal experience. If doctor's are telling you you're overreacting, or worse yet nothing is wrong...do NOT be deterred! While long this book is WELL worth the read. Your only problem may be the night of sleep you lose because you can't put it down.

As the parents of a three-year boy diagnosed with PDD-NOS in Jan. 2002, my wife and I are quickly devouring as much information on the subject as we can as we begin to advocate for our son's future (therapy, special education, behavior modification methods and possible nutritional/dietary changes). We have purchased or read nearly twenty books on the subject and, by far, Mitzi Waltz' summary of this broad spectrum disorder is the most well organized and written summary we have found. Here is a list of chapters/appendices of the book:1. THE MEDICAL FACTS ABOUT PDDs2. PDD CATEGORIES3. GETTING A DIAGNOSIS4. GETTING STARTED5. MEDICAL INTERVENTIONS6. THERAPEUTIC INTERVENTIONS7. OTHER INTERVENTIONS8. INSURANCE9. SCHOOL (EXCELLENT DISCUSSION OF IEPs, 504's, EDUCATION OPTIONS)10. FAMILY11. FINANCES12. SUPPORT13. LIVING WITH PDDsA. RESOUCES (OUTSTANDING LIST OF BOOKS, WEBSITES)B. SUPPORT AND ADVOCACY (A ONE-STOP SHOPPING LIST OF AUTISM SOCIETIES/SUPPORT GROUPS WITH ADDRESSES, PHONE #'S, INTERNET SITES)C. RESEARCH AND TESTING FACILITIESD. MEDICAL REFERENCEE. SUPPLEMENT REFERENCEF. DIAGNOSTIC TOOLSNOTESGLOSSARY OF ACRONYMS (A MUST FOR ANYONE NEW TO PDDs)INDEX (EXCELLENT WAY TO PINPOINT YOUR NEEDS)Several other excellent books tell the personal accounts of parents as they come to grips with the aftermath of a diagnosis and are wonderful therapy for parents to validate their feelings and outlooks. The Waltz book is written in plain language while covering the topic in a comprehensive and logical manner. It will serve as a reference for my family for years to come and I highly recommend it to EVERY parent who faces the challenges of living day-to-day with a child/adult diagnosed with a Pervasive Developmental Disorder. Thank you Mitzi!...