Review: It Commanded My Attention
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 02 25, 2013
If your are a teacher or a parent of an ADD child, I highly recommend that you purchase this book and not be dissuaded by its length.  "Commanding Attention" is a comprehensive, inclusive, and well researched book that explores the variations of ADD and the various strategies and treatments that address it. The author concentrates mostly on ADD-PI (predominantly inattentive), but all of the subsets of ADD are in the book, and some attention is paid to SCT (sluggish cognitive tempo) that is sometimes mistaken for ADD-PI.The book has six sections:Current ADHD diagnosis and treatmentLifestyle treatmentsTreatments that strengthen brain weaknessesVitamins and essential nutrientsMedical literature and reports on herbal treatmentsEmerging therapiesThe author explains the various pharmaceutical therapies in an unbiased manner; she recognizes the benefits that medicines can have, but also feels that they work best when combined with other strategies. As a longtime teacher and parent of an ADHD daugher, I heartily agree.As the author explores the various therapies, she examines their benefits, side effects, costs, and limitations.  I like that she stresses the importance of exercise, diet, sufficient sleep, stress control,  and even exposure to sunlight. I especially enjoyed the segments about neurological therapies, taking advantage of the brain's plasticity, and the exciting emerging therapies on the horizon.One doesn't need to read this entire book, page by page, to enjoy the benefits of its contents and wisdom. Admittedly I didn't read the section on vitamins with the same care as i did the other chapters, but  I know where the information is when I want to explore the effects of specific vitamins later.Again, I thoroughly enjoyed reading Commanding Attention, and the friendly, conversational style of the author.  This is a book well worth purchasing.IMPORTANT NOTE - Among the foods thought least likely to cause ADHD symptoms are POTATOES. Just wanted to mention that.