Publishers Weekly
03/01/2021
Parents should focus on their child’s neurology to help them thrive, advise Matthew and Carol Newell, married founders of the Family Home Center, in this unorthodox guide. They take the perspective that treating ADHD, autism, and dyslexia with a pathology-driven approach obscures the root of the problem, and instead suggest a program based on neuroplasticity. The authors present a simple overview of neurology, breaking down each area of the brain, and provide a chart to help parents evaluate skills associated with seven areas of brain function (a child should be able to recognize shapes by two months, for example). Activities are based on the idea that brain growth comes from sensory stimulation: light and dark training sessions strengthen the light reflex in blind children who lack it, while crawling exercises can help with focus and attention (even for older children). The authors also make a variety of standard holistic parenting suggestions, such as eating a diet free of processed foods, getting sufficient sleep, and using toxin-free cleaning products. “Family Success Story” sidebars serve mostly as testimonials for the Newells’ in-person program. Still, parents frustrated with discouraging prognoses and traditional approaches will find this guide clear enough to understand the philosophy, and straightforward enough to give some of the ideas a try. (Feb.)
From the Publisher
"If you're the parent of a special needs child, please read this book. You will find an empowering and refreshing way of viewing your child's condition. The information presented here will help you to understand what is happening, to get to the root cause of the problem and give you a road map for helping your child to heal."
—Linda Baker, MD, CCH, Portland, OR
"It is thrilling to see the decades of dedication spearheaded by Matthew and Carol Newell and their diverse team at the Family Hope Center encapsulated in this book. In it, their philosophy, approach, and results in overcoming neurological injuries—even the most severe cases—are made accessible to professionals and families alike . . . This book provides a broad picture of previously unsuspected possibilities in neurological recovery and effective parenting."
—Nancy Werner, MD
‘This book is so rich in enlightenment and knowledge of how parents or other close relatives can bring hope and development to children and adults suffering from neurological disorders."
—Mira Helena Bergkvist, MD, Sonderborg, Denmark
"As a medical professional, I've heard countless lectures in neurology and read numerous textbooks for courses. As a parent, I've had conversations with neurologists and neurosurgeons from the best hospitals this area has to offer. None of them can explain the brain like Matthew Newell does . . . The information I've learned from him has changed how I think, how I treat my patients, and how I raise my children. His book will be a game-changer for those who take the time to read it and let it change how they think!"
—Dr. Stephanie Ale, DPT, Certified MDT, CSCS, Woodstown, NJ
"This is essential reading for anyone who works with someone with any type of brain injury, therapists and parents alike . . . Parents will understand how to help their children and therapists will have the tools to work in a logical and methodical way to reach the potential in every individual they meet. This book should be a staple in every university level education that teaches about brain injuries in both children and adults."
—Dr. Jörgen Sandell, PhD, Clinical Medicine, Stockholm, Sweden
"With this book, Mathew can now share the wealth of knowledge he has accumulated over the years working with countless numbers of children with a wider audience and succeed in his mission to educate others beyond his program. I, for one, am grateful that Mathew has decided to offer us all his insight and experience by writing this book, and I know it will be an incredibly helpful resource for everyone who works with this special group of children."
—Dr. Kerry D'Ambrogio, senior practitioner and instructor for BodyTalk
